Ube Rice Krispie Treats with Toasted Coconut

Let me paint you a picture: a pan of rice krispie treats so vividly, impossibly purple that people will genuinely ask if they’re real. That gooey marshmallow pull. A crown of golden toasted coconut on top. And underneath all that gorgeous? Real ube flavor from actual ube superfood powder — not a drop of artificial extract or dye in sight.

Meet your new favorite treat. 💜

These Ube Rice Krispie Treats with Toasted Coconut are everything the nostalgic classic promises, leveled up with the bold, sweet, nutty-vanilla flavor of ube and a sneaky collagen boost from my Homemade Ube Superfood Powder blend. They come together in under 30 minutes,, and they will absolutely make someone’s day when they take that first bite.

This is one of those recipes that proves “better for you” and “outrageously delicious” are not mutually exclusive.

What Makes These Different from Other Ube Rice Krispie Treats

Here’s the thing — most ube rice krispie treat recipes floating around the internet use ube extract or ube flavoring, which is essentially just artificial coloring and imitation flavor. A few drops of purple, a vague nod to ube, and that’s it. I’ve bumped it up here and am not doing that with this recipe.

I created this around my Homemade Ube Superfood Powder — a 3-ingredient blend of pure purple sweet potato powder, vanilla collagen peptides, and vanilla baking salt. That means every single treat is made with:

• Real ube — authentic purple yam powder for genuine flavor and that stunning natural color
• Collagen peptides — a protein boost baked right into the marshmallow base
• Zero artificial dyes — the purple comes entirely from the ube itself
• Toasted coconut topping — a caramelized, golden crunch that takes this from simple to memorable

It’s a rice krispie treat that actually has something to say for itself.

The “Better For You” Angle — What’s Actually in Here

Let’s be real for a moment: this is still a marshmallow treat, and I’m not pretending otherwise. But compared to your basic rice krispie treat, here’s what you’re getting:

Real Ube (Purple Yam Powder) Ube is packed with anthocyanins — the same potent antioxidants responsible for its electric purple hue. These plant compounds support brain health, skin vitality, and help combat oxidative stress. You’re also getting fiber and complex carbohydrates from the yam itself. I use Ube Bae powder.

Collagen Peptides (Built Into the Ube Powder Blend) The Further Food vanilla collagen in the ube superfood powder blend means every treat delivers a small dose of collagen protein — great for joints, skin, hair, and muscle recovery. It dissolves completely into the marshmallow mixture, so there’s zero texture impact.

Toasted Coconut Coconut contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are a quick-burning, brain-friendly fat source. Plus — it tastes incredibly caramelized with just a touch of sugar.

So, is this healthy-ish food? Not actually. However, is it a bit more “better for  you” than the beloved classic? Absolutely yes if you ask me.

Ube Rice Krispie Treats with Toasted Coconut

Recipe by MichelleCourse: Recipes

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Ingredients

• topping, optional

• ¾ – 1 cup shredded coconut

• 1 tbsp sugar

• krispie treats

• ¼ cup butter

• 4-5 tbsp ube superfood powder, see link above

• 10 oz marshmallows, reserve handful to fold in if desired

• 1 tsp vanilla

• ⅛ tsp vanilla baking salt, can sub standard sea salt

• 5 cups rice krispies

• 2-3 tbsp mini puffed marshmallow bits

Directions

• Prepare an 8″x8″ inch baking pan by coating with butter or a little spritz of avocado oil, set aside.
• Add coconut to a skillet over medium heat. Once you see it start to get a few browned pieces, sprinkle on the sugar, tossing to coat. Continue to stir until coconut is browned, then scoop onto a plate to cool while you make the krispies.
• Add the cereal to a large mixing bowl, set aside.
• In a medium sized saucepan, add butter and melt over low heat. Once the butter is melted add
• the ube superfood powder and whisk well to combine. This will turn into a thick’ish paste but will loosen up once you add the marshmallows.
• Add the marshmallows, (reserve a few if you want to stir them in with the cereal after) vanilla and vanilla salt. Melt slowly over medium low heat, stirring constantly to avoid any browning on the bottom of the pan.
• Pour this over the cereal, stirring to coat initially, then before the mixture cools too much add in the reserved marshmallows and the puffed bits (if using). Use a large rubber spatula to scrape across the bottom of the bowl to incorporate all the mixins and melted marshmallows.
• Transfer mixture to the prepared pan and press down slightly with a spatula or buttered fingers/palms to fill the pan. I try not to press down too tightly since I like my rice krispie treats to have some “give” to them.
• While the mixture is still warm, scatter the toasted coconut evenly over the top and press gently to adhere it to the krispies.
• Allow it to cool slightly and firm up then slice and enjoy!

Notes

• Because the superfood powder isn’t a liquid extract like many Ube recipe you’ll see, the color won’t be as vivid as most, which is not a bad thing. If you want more purple, you could add more purple sweet potato powder only, but this could change the consistency of the final Rice Krispie treat, so keep that in mind.

Tips, Tricks & Swaps

On the ube powder amount: Start with 4 tablespoons for a vibrant purple color and moderate ube flavor. Go to 5 tablespoons if you want that deep, rich color and a more pronounced nutty-vanilla ube taste. Both are stunning.

The “paste” step is important: Don’t skip whisking the ube powder into the melted butter before adding the marshmallows. This step blooms the powder and ensures even color distribution throughout every single bite.

Low and slow wins: Melting the marshmallows over medium-low heat with constant stirring is the key to gooey, chewy treats. High heat = tough, stiff, sad treats. Be patient — it’s worth it.

On pressing: Lightly buttered palms are the best tool for pressing the mixture into the pan without it sticking to you. Don’t press too firmly — you want some lift and chew, not a dense brick.

Coconut skip: If coconut isn’t your thing or you need a coconut-free version, skip the topping entirely or swap for white chocolate chips, freeze-dried raspberries, or a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for a different flavor vibe.

Make it gluten-free: Swap standard Rice Krispies for a certified gluten-free puffed rice cereal and you’re all set.

On the marshmallow fold-in: Reserving a few marshmallows to stir in at the very end gives you those irresistible gooey pockets of marshmallow throughout the finished treat. I highly recommend.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use the homemade ube superfood powder, or can I use plain ube powder? The Homemade Ube Superfood Powder blend is specifically formulated with vanilla collagen and vanilla baking salt already mixed in, which is why this recipe calls for vanilla extract and vanilla salt separately — it’s calibrated to complement the blend. If you use plain ube powder only, you’ll still get gorgeous color and flavor, but you’ll miss the collagen boost and the layered vanilla notes. The blend is worth making — it only takes 5 minutes!

Can I use ube extract instead of ube powder? You can, but the results will be different. Ube extract provides color and a hint of flavor, but it doesn’t give you any of the nutritional benefits of real ube powder — no antioxidants, no fiber, no collagen. It also tends to produce a brighter, more artificial-looking purple rather than the rich, deep violet you get from real powder. We’re Team Real Ube Powder here. 💜

Why does my ube paste look thick and weird? Totally normal! When the ube powder hits the hot butter it forms a paste — this is exactly what you want. It means the powder is blooming and distributed evenly. The moment the marshmallows start to melt in, it will loosen up into a silky, gorgeous purple mixture.

Can I make these ahead of time? Yes! These keep well covered at room temperature for up to 3 days. The coconut topping stays crisp for the first day or two — after that it softens slightly but is still delicious.

Can I double the recipe? Absolutely — use a 9″x13″ pan and double all ingredients. Keep in mind you’ll want a bigger pot for the marshmallow melt!

Are these paleo? Traditional marshmallows and Rice Krispies aren’t paleo, so no, they are not.  The ube powder blend is considered “paleo”. I used to us a paleo marshmallow for these, however the brand I used to use has sadly gone out of business. If you can find a brand that works for you, run with that. And I’m guessing there may be some kind of “puffed” cereal out there that isn’t a grain, so you do what works for you.

You’ll Also Love This Ube Recipe

• Homemade Ube Superfood Powder ← Start here — this is the base blend used in this recipe!
• More ube forward recipes coming soon — bookmark this page! 💜

Made these? I want to see that purple! Tag me on social and show me your treats. Nothing makes my day quite like seeing your Back Porch Paleo creations. 💜

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