The ube Rice Krispies treats I always make for my Filipino son
My son love these ube Rice Krispies treats, inspired by the Filipino dessert, halo-halo
Dear friend,
It’s been hot in Washington state, so I’ve been making some treats that don’t require me to use the oven. One of my go-to treats is this ube Rice Krispies treat recipe. The delicious and refreshing Filipino dessert, halo-halo, inspired this recipe. Now, when I asked my Filipino husband and son if this treat reminded them of halo-halo, they argued, no because there’s no ice, pinipig, jackfruit, flan, and other components that often make up halo-halo. So I didn’t call these halo-halo Rice Krispies treats, but instead will call them ube ones.
Now, these are not too sweet, which I find the original versions to be too sweet. How did I cut down the sweetness when I still used a bag of marshmallows? Well, for one, I added a tablespoon of red miso to the melted marshmallows. I also added ube extract and ube halaya, and their vanilla-like aroma cuts down some of the sweetness.
I think some sea salt to top the treats would be great too, but instead, I drizzled on some sweetened condensed milk, which you can omit.
Here are some tips for success with your ube Rice Krispies treats — and why each step matters:
1. Brown the butter first
Before adding marshmallows, melt the butter over medium-low heat and let it cook until it turns golden with a nutty aroma. Browning butter will add a toasty, nutty flavor that helps balance sweetness. And it always sound more gourmet when you incorproate brown butter.
2. Mix the ube extract, miso, and ube halaya into the melted marshmallows
3. Extra finishing touches
For a salty-sweet contrast, sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt after drizzling condensed milk, if using.
Let them set at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before cutting, for neat slices and the perfect chew. If they don’t set, the marshmallows will be too sticky and the clean up will be annoying.
So that’s the story behind the ube Rice Krispies treats I always make for my Filipino son — a little nod to halo-halo, a lot of ube goodness, and just the right balance of sweet and salty. They’ve become a family favorite in our home, and I hope they’ll bring the same joy to yours. Let’s get to the recipe so you can make a batch today.
xoxoxo,
The Queen of Asian Baking and Asian Cookies, Kat Lieu <3
Plate of cookies I made for a charity fundraiser box that helped raise over $5000 for The ACLU
Halo-Halo Inspired Ube Rice Krispies treats recipe
These chewy, vibrant ube Rice Krispies treats are a Filipino-inspired twist on the classic, made with ube extract, ube halaya, and a touch of red miso for balanced sweetness. No oven required—perfect for quick, colorful, and crowd-pleasing desserts that is also not too sweet!
