It’s the ultimate in comfort food … and at Methodist Women’s Hospital, it’s serious business.

If you haven’t had one of their Kellogg's^® Rice Krispies^® Treats, you are missing out.

The most popular treat

“It’s probably one of the most popular things here,” said Tyler Ratigan, Food Service Team Leader at Methodist Women’s Hospital. “It’s easily our most popular dessert.”

Big, thick and ooey gooey, staff members, patients and guests can’t seem to get enough. The culinary staff makes multiple batches of Rice Krispies treats, selling around 380 per week.

“We have nurses who will buy five or six on a Friday, and take them home,” said Ratigan. “They claim they’re buying them for the department … but who knows.”

The “secret sauce”

So what’s the secret to this savory snack? It’s not really a secret … but it’s probably not what you expect from a hospital kitchen.

“What sets our Rice Krispies apart at the Women’s Hospital is the fact that they are so big,” said Ratigan” The other things that makes them so special is that we use salted butter rather than unsalted butter along with a ratio of 4 parts marshmallows to 1 part butter.” 

Ratigan says they’re very open about using real butter in their famous recipe and it’s not billed as a “healthy choice” menu item. Even the doctors don’t seem to mind.

“There havn’t been any problems with us using salted butter,” said Ratigan. “We send them up to the doctor’s lounge every day and they’re happy with them.”

Bribery? Perhaps. But when it comes to good food, in moderation, everybody wins.

“If people ask, we will talk up the Rice Krispies treats, but we’re pretty proud of all of our products,” said Ratigan. “It just depends on what our staff members or guests are in the mood for. We think our brownies are really good. I don’t know why they don’t get the hype.”

Want to try the recipe at home? Here it is, courtesy of the culinary staff at Methodist Women’s Hospital:

Methodist Women’s Hospital Rice Krispies Treats 

Ingredients

• 1 lb Salted butter
• 4 lb Marshmallows
• 2 lb Rice Krispies

Directions

Melt the butter and add the marshmallows. Stir until the marshmallows have melted. Mix the Rice Krispies in the butter and marshmallow mix. Spread the mixture into a hotel pan and let it set up. Remove from pan, cut into 3.5 x 2.5-inch bars and enjoy!

Makes 30 treats.