Rice Krispie Treat Day – September 18, 2024

History of Rice Krispie Treat Day

Rice Krispie Treat were first introduced in a dessert book that was written by Lucy Maltby in 1938. According to the recipe in the book, the treat was originally made from cereal, butter, sugar, molasses, and vinegar. In 1916, a similar recipe called Puffed Rice Brittle was introduced in another cookbook. The recipe then saw several amendments and additions over the years. For instance, the Campfire Girls troop leader Mildred Day and her scouts sold hundreds of Rice Krispies Treats during the summer of 1939. The credit for the sudden popularity of the treats lies in the fact that the scouts added a sweet flavor to the original concoction, and added campfire Girls Marshmallows to the mix. Later on, this very recipe was picked up by Kellogg’s since the sweet delight was loved by kids and adults alike.

In 1941, the company added Day’s recipe to the back of the Rice Krispies cereal box. The treat was also trademarked and became a nationwide hit due to its simple yet scrumptious flavor. A few years and lots of advertisements later, the treats became a common household name and were consumed by children of all ages daily, as well as on special occasions — that’s how much they adored the flavor. In fact, Malitta Jensen and Mildred Day, who were Kellogg’s employees, also introduced a promotional vehicle for the cereal in 1939. Holiday-themed Rice Krispie Treat versions were also created by people. These were created using food coloring based on the theme of the holiday.