I’ll be honest — I had never eaten Rice Krispies Treats before America’s Test Kitchen invited me to join their Rice Krispies Treat Challenge. When I agreed, I wanted to reimagine this nostalgic dessert with the flavors I love most: warm spice and bright fruit. That’s how these Pineapple Five-Spice Rice Krispies Treats were born.
The warm, aromatic notes of Chinese five-spice — cinnamon, star anise, fennel, cloves, and Sichuan peppercorn — pair beautifully with the tropical sweetness of pineapple. To bring out the spice’s full flavor, I first bloomed the five-spice in melted butter. This step unlocks the fat-soluble aromatic compounds so every bite tastes rich and fragrant.
Next, I added pineapple two ways. First, I used finely ground freeze-dried pineapple to coat the cereal and infuse it with tangy flavor. Then, I mixed in chopped crystallized pineapple for chewy bursts of concentrated fruit. The combination of spice and fruit creates a treat that’s crunchy, chewy, and full of personality.
In the end, these bars are familiar yet completely new — proof that a little curiosity and a touch of kitchen science can turn a simple childhood snack into something extraordinary. You can watch the recipe come to life on America’s Test Kitchen’s YouTube channel and try it yourself at home. Get the recipe at America’s Test Kitchen.