One of the hardest parts of being a new vegan (or even an old seasoned vegan) is trying to keep up with all the new products out there. I must have spent over $50 looking for the "right" vegan cheese my first year being a vegan and I have over 50 vegan/vegetarian cookbooks in my arsenal but not all the recipes are the greatest. I’m the first born so I’m used to being a Guinea Pig and now I’m your Vegan Guinea Pig. So here are my recommendations and critiques. Let me know what you think!

Monday, August 3, 2009

Mouth Full Of Marshmallow’s And Not Ashamed Of It!


With a cookbook coming out in a little over a month, I tend to fancy myself to be a pretty decent cook. Baking for and running a successful vegan bakery, you think, would make me a pretty decent baker too. But…after all the food I have cooked, all the cookies, pies and cupcakes I have made. Nothing has brought more “ooohhh’s” “ahhhh’s” and “how did you make these?” than when I made Rice Krispies Treats for a friend’s birthday party.

At first all the omni’s were apprehensive. They know I’m vegan, love my food, love my deserts but something about the idea of a vegan marshmallow made them uneasy. Mostly because most of them didn’t know what was in a marshmallow to make it not vegan in the first place! (It never ceases to amaze me how clueless people are about what they put in their bodies! But I digress…)
One of my friends skeptically picked up a little Rice Krispies Treat square. He looked at it, smelled it, and then cut it in half just in case he didn’t like it. Then he took a small, timid bite. Within 10 milliseconds of his first chew he was grinning from ear to ear, had devoured the first half of the square, was reaching for the other half and was eyeing the tray of treats to assess how long it would take him to finish the whole tray! Next came the questions…”what did you put in these?”, “Tell me your secret!”, “Did you use an egg?”, “You had to have used real butter right?” The questions kept coming and when they finally stopped I simply said “Earth Balance, Rice Krispies and most importantly DANDIES!” This, of course, led to an exhaustive explanation of what Dandies are, what are in regular marshmallows and why being vegan is the best thing since the invention if the wheel! I must say, the Chicago Soy Dairy has outdone themselves this time. I would like to personally give the inventor of dandies a kiss on the mouth! And I mean that, so wherever you are get your lips ready!

I’d dibbled and dabbled in the world of vegan marshmallows but was never very impressed. But the bag of dandies just looked so light and so fluffy. Plus there’s a little marshmallow man on the bag smiling and beckoning you to come eat him. How could I resist? If you follow me on twitter then you know my initial reaction to these glorious morsels of sugar fluff. I dare not repeat it here for fear my mother or grandmother might run across this post one day! But let’s just say. I liked them a lot. If you haven’t tried these yet, then it’s time to get out your wallet and get to it!

Oh and of course I wouldn't leave you without the all important recipe for Rice Krispies Treats.


Rice Krispies Treats

3 tablespoons Earth Balance Margarine

One, 10-ounce bag of Dandies

6 cups Rice Krispies

In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.


Add rice Krispies cereal. Stir until well coated.


Evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool. Cut into 2-inch squares.

10 comments:

  1. I haven't tried these, yet. I was never a big marshmallow eater, but I'd like to be able to make these treats for the non-vegans in my life.

    I totally recognized the skeptic behavior you described! It's fun to watch the surprise as the NVs discover they like what I've made.

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  2. I keep reading about these. Part of me wants to order some online, except they are kind of pricey...considering I would have to pay shipping and would inevitably consume the entire bag in one sitting. I used to LOVE marshmallows. I would eat them straight out of the bag, and I thought Peeps were the greatest invention in the world.

    Maybe I'll get some for Easter, roll them in sugar, and pretend that I'm eating Peeps :)

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  3. Awww Gina you just missed Cosmo's one day sale on dandies! Cosmo's and Vegan Essentials are always having sales and specials so that's the perfect time to stock up!

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  4. Hi! i just stumbled across your blog today and I love it for three reasons (that may seem a bit arbitrary but oh well): 1) I'm a vegan who seriously reads recipe books and blogs like deeply engrossing fiction 2) I grew up in Athens, GA and spent a lot of time in Atlanta 3)..where I got my first guinea pig and fell in love with the furry creatures!
    So I just wanted to introduce myself and I am very excited to continue reading your blog!

    alexx e.

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  5. These sound great, the only problem is Rice Krispies aren't vegan. They add Vitamin D3 to their cereal, so not sure if there is a generic version of Rice Krispies without the vitamin D3?

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  6. You have a book!
    That is soooooo cool. Congratulations.

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  7. Oh there are tons! Any and every grocery store has at least 2 generic brands of Rice Krispies. They are usually either right next to the Rice Krispies or in bags, instead of boxes, in the middle of the cereal aisle.

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  8. shop rite has an organic store brand of rice krispies that are really good and don't have any vitamin D at all! and they're a really good price too. (they call it crispy rice)

    (and i came in here to say the same thing. hehehe. so now i see you meant "rice krispies" in the generic sense like "q-tip" and "band-aid")

    also, malt-o-meal uses D3 too. just FYI, and the I of the future readers of this post.

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  9. Thanks SuperCarrot. Yeah "crispy rice treats" just doesn't have the same ring to it. :)

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