Snap, crackle and pop were the sounds resonating from the MSU bakery as students attempted to beat Iowa State University’s Guinness record of the world’s largest Rice Krispie Treat.
“We used to work with Pillsbury on the world’s largest brownie,” bakery manager Gerald Stoecker said. “MSU Safe Place and other collaborates came up with this idea, and it’s been a Homecoming event ever since.”
MSU’s 1997 record of 2,260 pounds was broken by Iowa State University in 2001, but Stoecker said he is confident that MSU can reclaim the record with this year’s treat, which has an estimated weight of 3,000 pounds. The treat will be featured in the Homecoming parade Friday and will remain on display all day Saturday in a tent on the north side of Spartan Stadium.
Bakery staff members said they enjoyed getting their hands dirty in 1,716 pounds of marshmallows, 897 pounds of Rice Krispies and 429 pounds of margarine. The group hovered around the giant mixer in the bakery that is normally used for bread production, as they mixed and scooped out the gooey gobs of batter into large saucers.
Kellogg and SYSCO donated the ingredients, and MSU bakers have put more than 14 hours of work to create the huge treat.
The treat had to be made in smaller batches and transported to the giant Plexiglass and wood framed mold at the loading dock of Puffin’s Pastry Shop.
“I have been here since 10 a.m., and I will probably be here until midnight,” baker Rita Lyon said. “But this is really a great experience.”
As rain steadily fell during production behind the bakery, the bakers were forced to cover their prize with a large tarp. Students passing by were still able to catch a glimpse of the enormous Rice Krispie Treat.
“Oh my God, that’s all Rice Krispies?” said pre-med freshman Kelly Ottenstroer, after sneaking a peek at nearly full mold.
Pre-med freshman Marriane Millan agreed. “I think that looks pretty good,” she said.
“We get orders weeks in advance, so when today came we were ready to shift operations around,” bakery operations supervisor Roger Weldon said.
The treat also is being sold for $2, and proceeds will go toward Safe Place, MSU’s on-campus domestic violence shelter.
“We have always gotten immediate attention from this event, and we are hoping to continue to receive it,” Safe Place director Holly Rosen said.
The MSU chapter of the Institute of Packaging Professionals built the mold for the treat to be paraded in.
“The packaging group was a big part of this,” Stoecker said. “Without them, this project wouldn’t be possible.”
