Wreak Sweet Havoc on Your Dorm With Nutella Rice Krispies Treat Pinwheels

Rice Krispies treats are incredibly fast and easy to make. They are very popular, and—at least for me—nostalgic. In addition to having an addictive taste, Rice Krispies treats are also very malleable and versatile—so much so that they are sculpted and used as part of elaborate cakes and other displays.

What’s awesome about this recipe is that making the pinwheel shape is a very simple process that doesn’t require much experience or effort, and you can easily customize the ingredients to individual tastes.

I have always loved to bake. In high school, I would often bake at home over the weekend and share the desserts I made with my friends at lunch. (PSA: It’s a great way to make friends!) My freshman year at college, my peer mentor let me use her kitchen, but now that she has graduated, I need to find ways to express my creativity through baking using only the microwave on my floor and the limited supplies available to me.

Here are the ingredient proportions for my favorite recipe for chewy Rice Krispie treats (adapted from the Original Treats recipe).

Rice Krispies Treat

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 10 minutesCook time: 5 minutesTotal time: 15 minutesServings:12 servings

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup butter salted
• 5 cup cereal
• 1 10 ounce bag marshmallows

Instructions

#SpoonTip: Use a different kind of cereal or combine several to change the texture and flavor profile of your treats. You can even add texture with crushed Oreos, sprinkles and other mix-ins by stirring them into the dry cereal before adding melted marshmallows.

Don’t like Nutella? You can also switch up your filling. Try melted chocolate, peanut butter, or cookie butter for decadent treats. 

Math time: My bag contains 40 marshmallows, but my mug holds only ten marshmallows. What do I have to do to the recipe  to make it more mug-friendly? (Answer: divide by 4.) 

Updated Dorm-Style Rice Krispies Treat Recipe (per 1 mug)

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 5 minutesTotal time: 5 minutesServings:1 servings

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 1/4 cups cereal
• 10 large marshmallows
• Additional mix-ins if desired

Instructions

1. 
   

   Melt butter and marshmallows in a mug for 30 seconds.

   #SpoonTip: Marshmallows puff up in the microwave, especially in a small cup or bow so be careful.

2. 
   

   Stir well. If lumps remain, heat for an additional 10 seconds. Repeat as needed.

3. 
   

   Mix in cereal.

4. 
   

   Grease pan and spread mixture in an even layer. Let cool until firm, yet flexible. The Rice Krispies treats should be tacky, but not overly sticky.

Here I used a 6 inch square tupperware. Don’t have tupperware? Use a clean to-go/takeout box or get creative and make your own container.

(To make a pinwheel shape, the Rice Krispies treats need to be thin. If you just want to make squares, double or triple the recipe to get a nice thickness.)

Now let’s make things fancy. 

Rice Krispies Treat Pinwheel

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 5 minutesTotal time: 5 minutesServings:6 servings

Ingredients

• 2 batches dorm-style Rice Krispies treats
• Nutella to taste
• Additional toppings if desired
• 1 gallon-sized Ziplock bag
• Extra butter or oil to grease hands and tools

Instructions

1. 
   

   Cut along the side seams of the Ziplock bag to create one long plastic rectangle. This will be your work surface.

2. 
   

   Lay the two Rice Krispies treats side by side and use your fingers to press them together along one edge.

3. 
   

   Scoop several tablespoons of Nutella onto the treats and spread evenly. Leave room along the edges to avoid leakage when you roll the pinwheels.

4. 
   

   To begin the pinwheel, roll one short edge tightly onto itself.

5. 
   

   Continue rolling the treats into a cylinder, lifting and pulling the plastic bag to help create a compact roll.

6. 
   

   Refrigerate until ready to eat. These treats slice better when cold, but taste best just below room temperature. I cut mine into 6 slices about 1 to 1 1/2 in thick, but servings can vary based on how big you want each pinwheel.

Tips and Tricks I’ve Learned For Rice Krispies Treats and Baking in Your Dorm Room

1. Grease your hands and all your tools before handling warm marshmallow and cereal mix. It’s very sticky. Good news: The high sugar content in marshmallows makes them water soluble. Soak your mug and bowl in hot water for a few minutes to let the leftover goo dissolve before washing.

2. Minimal supplies also means minimal dedicated counter space. Lay out a towel to protect your stuff and have a vacuum on hand. 

3. Make sure your Rice Krispies Treats are evenly spread, without holes to avoid Nutella leakage.

All in all, these pinwheels were a success. They were simple to make and tasted great. Small batch baking (or microwaving) can be a tedious process, especially when you buy ingredients in full-size packages. But if I’m ever craving a sweet-crunchy-chewy treat, I’d definitely make these again.

Oddly enough, my roommate said she wouldn’t mind me making them again either.

• < 20 Minutes
• < 5 Ingredients
• Coffee
• Cream
• Dessert
• Dorm Lyfe
• Microwave
• Milk
• Tea