Soccer season officially started.
Every time I walk through the supermarket, I spot at least two or three kids in cleats and shin guards, slowly following their parents around while slurping down Gatorade. Shoe laces untied, hair tangled, and grass stains on their knee caps… If I were them, I’d beg to hitch a ride in the cart—or simply wait in the car!
Their brightly colored jerseys bring back memories of when I played in my city’s rec league throughout grade school. My mom drove me to practice each week and offered to sew my teams’ banners for a few years, which we proudly displayed at the games and once during the soccer parade down Main Street (although I usually boycotted that and slept in instead).
Then on Saturdays, I pulled on my uniform and ran up and down the field at the local middle school. My coaches shouted their favorite phrases—“Midfielders drop back!” and “Gotta want it!”—while we struggled to shoot the ball past the opposing goalie. (I always asked to play defense. I was too shy and timid to lead the offensive charge as a forward!)
At halftime, the parents rotated the responsibility of supplying us with snacks. They usually offered fresh orange slices, but sometimes we got chilled grapes (my favorite!). After a little pep talk, we sprinted around the field for another 30 minutes before the final whistle sounded.
Win or lose, we high-fived the other team and stuffed our faces with sweet treats at the end of the match. Some parents planned ahead and baked homemade chocolate chips cookies, but others (mine included!) completely forgot and dashed over to the nearest grocery store during the game to grab pre-made goodies. Rice krispie treats—the plain ones in those bright blue wrappers—showed up nearly every other week, but they were always a huge hit!
But you guys should know me by now… I
A root beer float!
Yes, I created Root Beer Float Rice Krispie Treats! To make these bars, you’ll add more marshmallows than in other recipes, which make them sweeter, gooier, and stay soft longer. A total win! The bottom layer tastes warm and spicy from the root beer extract (just like the soda!), while the sweet vanilla layer on top resembles the ice cream. When eaten together, they taste exactly like the classic float—but without the straw or sticky half-melted mess!
These taste just like a root beer float, except there’s no straw necessary! They’re best if eaten the same day they’re made, but they’ll still stay soft in an air-tight container for a few days.
- Generously coat a 9”-square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray (canola or butter-flavored is best). Set aside.
- To prepare the root beer layer, add the cereal to a large bowl. Melt the butter in a large pot over medium-low heat. Add the marshmallows once the butter has melted, and stir constantly with a spatula. When the marshmallows are almost completely melted, remove the pot from the heat and pour in the root beer extract. Return the pot to the heat, and continue stirring constantly until the extract is fully incorporated and the marshmallows melt.
- Pour the marshmallow mixture over the cereal, and stir with the spatula until fully incorporated. Pour the gooey cereal mixture into the prepared pan. Generously coat your hands with the nonstick cooking spray, and press the cereal mixture evenly across the bottom of the pan.
- To prepare the vanilla layer, add the cereal to a large bowl. Melt the butter in a large pot over medium-low heat. Add the marshmallows once the butter has melted, and stir constantly with a spatula. When the marshmallows are almost completely melted, remove the pot from the heat and pour in the vanilla extract. Return the pot to the heat, and continue stirring constantly until the extract is fully incorporated and the marshmallows melt.
- Pour the marshmallow mixture over the cereal, and stir with the spatula until fully incorporated. Pour the gooey cereal mixture into the prepared pan on top of the root beer layer. Generously coat your hands with the nonstick cooking spray, and press the cereal mixture evenly across the root beer layer. Cool completely before cutting into 16 squares.
Just saw this on Pinterest. My son is near 40 yrs old now. When in high school all his school projects were made with food. He did a 3D structure of a cell with different colored homemade rice Krispy treat mixture. Also did 3D map of South America with cake. Needless to say his class always required him to do his speech and present his project first!
I truly appreciate you taking the time to comment, Rebecca! I’m really sorry about my delayed response. I was out of the office to take care of some family things, and it took a lot more time than I anticipated. I completely understand if it’s too late, but just in case…
Thank you for sharing! I was a chemist before I became a baking blogger, so I LOVE the sound of the rice krispie treat 3D cell your son did! The Africa cake sounds impressive too. I would’ve wanted him to present first if he was in my classes too!
If you end up making these rice krispie treats, I’d love to hear what you think of them! Even if they aren’t nearly as elaborate or involved as your son’s projects… 😉
Can you substitute root beer concentrate or flavoring for the extract?
Yes! From what I’ve gathered, root beer extract and root beer concentrate are generally the same thing. Different brands call them by different names (which I think causes unnecessary confusion! 😉 ), but your rice krispie treats should have the same flavor and texture if you use root beer concentrate to make them.
I’d love to hear what you think if you do end up making this recipe, Dawn! 🙂
How do you get the root beer layer darker than the top.layer I used the root beer extract and it did not come out the brown color the layers look the same?
We really appreciate you trying this recipe, Jean! I suspect the color has to do with the brand of root beer extract you are using. We like to use McCormick’s root beer extract which is a really dark brown color, so we didn’t add any food coloring to get that contrast of colors you see in the photos.
I looked at some other brands of root beer extract/concentrate, and it appears that many are clear. If your extract was clear, then that would be why your layers look exactly the same! We would recommend trying a different brand of extract or you can definitely add some food coloring to get that layered look! 😉