Rice Krispy Treats in Cake Decorating

Rice Krispy treats in cake decorating can be a huge blessing. This simple, easy and effortless recipe can be made in minutes and can be used in any part of cake decorating. Whether you want to create a small section, to elevate the cake, or use for cake sculpting a whole section defying gravity. The possibilities are endless with this delicious treats that can be enjoyed by kids as well as grown-ups.

For some of us using Rice Krispy Treats on our cakes is not new. And yet, recently I've been getting a lot of questions regarding RKT. So I thought I'd share some more information with you about Rice Krispies treats in cake decorating. Why it's used? When it's used? And how to make it?

The Benefits of Rice Krispy treats in cake decorating

• Rice Krispy treats are a great way to add sculpted designs to your cake. Items that would not hold their shape using cake can be made using Rice Krispies (for example, rugby ball).
• To add support for structures – such as making the bottom part of your soccer ball with Rice Krispies for added support (more here).
• Enlarge the design of your cake by substituting part of the cake with Rice Krispies. For example, make the head of a figure with Rice Krispies which otherwise can be difficult to support.

Ever wonder how they make a full sphere cake?

Now, I did make a detailed tutorial and showed you three ways to make the perfect sphere cake. So I won't go into more details here. And yet, remember my son's birthday cake?  Sports shoe cake tutorial? The bottom ⅓ of the basketball is made with Rice Krispy Treats.

Why? The weather here in the month of May is way too hot for buttercream or ganache to hold it's weight if I only used cake. There is no way the bottom half of that cake would hold its shape. And my son insisted on a full ball. Rice Krispies to the rescue.

The rugby ball on top of the cake below is Rice Krispy treats. We did not want so much cake and it would be easy to sculpt this in Rice Krispies and avoid cake structure (additional cost). This one did not need any special cake structure.

Which recipe is right for Rice Krispy's treats? (pin)

Now I know there are many many recipes floating on the internet so it's confusing to know which is the right recipe? Technically, to make Rice Krispy treats for cake decorating purposes you only need rice crispy cereals and a sticky element that will help them cling to each other. Most people use Rice Krispy cereals with marshmallows.

All you do is melt your marshmallows and add enough RKT cereal so they stick to each other making it possible to mold or create a ball. But of course, we also want to make it even yummier. So I use a few more things like chocolate and butter. Again, you can use only marshmallow and RKT to keep it simple or to keep your cost low. Here's how I make my RKT for cake sculpting.

The ice cream scoops on this ice cream sundae cake are made with RKT. Those scoops in a cake? Nah!! A big mess - but RKT - works like magic. You can see the tutorial in detail here - Ice-Cream Sundae Cake Tutorial.

Ingredients and substitutes

• Rice Krispies - Ideally, you want something that is light and easy to bind together. So, RKT works perfectly. And yet, if for some reason, you cannot use RKT - go with any cereal that's light and can be squished together. Also, look for one that is not crisp, as it will just crumble into a powder.
  For those of you in India, and can't find Rice Krispy Cereals, you can use puffed rice (Poha). Puffed rice is almost the same as Rice Krispy's. That might work well.
• Marshmallow - You need something that has the ability to glue the Rice Krispy cereal together. And what better than marshmallows. It's a huge sticky mess!! Nowadays, you can get vegetarian as well as vegan marshmallows.
  And yet, if you cannot use marshmallows, I highly recommend using plain melted chocolate. Use only as much as you need to bring it all together. While it is as messy as marshmallows, it's not as sticky. Mold it into a shape or a pan you need, then let it set in the fridge. Once the chocolate firms up - cut into the desired shape. Also, to work it into a shape, do it at intervals. Let the chocolate partially set then remold it into shape before it set even more.
•  Melted chocolate - I once melted modeling chocolate instead of just chocolate and used it with my Rice Kripsy Cereals. I personally found it better than melted chocolate because the pasty quality of the modeling chocolate meant that I had less smoothing to do.
• Butter - This is not just for taste but to help work with RKT efficiently too! If you cannot use butter use vegetable shortening (ghee/dalda). Smear the bowl with butter so the marshmallows won't stick to it. Rub your hands with butter or veg shortening so you won't have sticky hands. If you live in a hot and humid place - use less butter in the mixture. Though it tastes good - the humidity will keep the final RKT softer.

Small Thin Cake Projects

The neck of a wine bottle cake is very thin to use cake (I used cake - see video) but it would be a lot easier and more durable to use RKT instead.

Step by step instructions (pin)

• Use a Microwave safe bowl or a double boiler (what is a double boiler -read more here).
• Grease the bowl with some of the butter.
• Add marshmallow, chocolate and remaining butter in the same bowl.
• Melt in the microwave at 50% for about 30 to 40 seconds or over a double boiler.
• Stir and melt some more if needed for 10-sec intervals.
• Once it's all melted - Add the rice crispy cereals to it and mix well with a greased spoon.
• Pour into a greased tray and let the mixture cool.
• Once the mixture is cool enough to handle.

How to mold Rice Krispies/How to sculpt Rice Krispies for cake sculpting

• It is very easy to mold Rice Krispies into shapes.
• Once you mix the batch just form it into your desired shape.
• Or press it into a mold that you need.
• You can even use it to follow a template (shape).
• Let dry for a few hours before you continue.
• Once hardened it gets easier to cut with a knife and shape further.

Smoothing Rice Krispies treats for cake decorating

• Use melted chocolate, modeling chocolate, royal icing, buttercream or fondant into small dents or uneven parts to achieve a smooth finish.
• Then drape with fondant or modeling chocolate like you would a cake to get a perfectly smooth finish.

Tips when working with Rice Krispy Treats (Rice Krispies)

• Always use the microwave at 50% power or a double boiler - burnt marshmallows don't smell nice in cake decorating projects.
• The ratio of marshmallows to RKT looks like a little: lot but it's a necessity if you want your RKT to harden. If you use too many marshmallows the resulting RKT tends to be soft, not hard. You want a firm mix of RKT for your cake decorating projects.
• Make sure you coat the RKT well with the marshmallows. If you have too many dry spots, when you crave it later large chunks will fall off.
• Give the mixture enough time to set because it will get harder and stronger. This means you can use it to sculpt better as well as to cut into shape.
• If you live in a hot and humid place use royal icing to get a smooth finish. Melted chocolate and fondant works too. The humidity can keep buttercream and ganache soft. Basically, use your RKT project as a cake project. If you can use buttercream on your cake then you can use it on the RKT, but if butter is a mess - stay clear. Makes sense?

Don't forget to save this recipe on Pinterest for later.
You can also find a collection of my tutorials and recipes here on Pinterest.

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