Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cheerios Treats.

So the other day, a co-worker of mine said something along the lines of “Wouldn’t it be awesome to make Rice Krispies Treats with Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cheerios instead of Rice Krispies?” I responded with a resounding “YES!!” and then remembered I had a bag of marshmallows at home just waiting to be used. “I’ll make these tonight!” I declared. So when I got home, I made a beeline for the kitchen and started prepping ingredients. My fiance came home mid-prep, and wanted to go out for a run. So I left the butter in the saucepan (since it had to be melted anyway) and out we went. Upon our return, he noticed the chunk of butter in the pan on the stove, and gave me his classic raised eyebrow “what on earth are you doing now?” look. He was in for a very pleasant surprise.

I started with a box of Chocolate Cheerios and a box of Peanut Butter Cheerios (both of which are delicious on their own, but even better when combined). I mixed them with the marshmallow and melted butter and spread them out into the pan, let them cool, and brought them into work the next day. They were a raging success, and will be made again, I guarantee it.

Cheerios are the new Rice Krispies.

We cut them into squares, and found them to be denser then the traditional Rice Krispies version, but the chocolate, peanut butter, and marshmallow combo was magically delicious, fo’ sho’.

Chocolate and Peanut Butter and Marshmallow, oh my.

The recipe is very simple. You just sub in Cheerios. But here’s the actual measurements I used, in case you want to give this quick and easy perfect-for-any-party treat a try on the fly.

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cheerios Treats.

What you’ll need:

1 bag (10oz) large marshmallows

1/4 cup butter

4 cups Chocolate Cheerios

4 cups Peanut Butter Cheerios

What you’ll do:

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Over low heat, add the bag of marshmallows, and mix until smooth. In a large mixing bowl, combine the Cheerios. Pour the marshmallow mix over top, and stir until all the Cheerios are completely coated. Grease a 13×9 baking pan, and spread the mix into the pan. Let cool. Cut into squares. Eat!

Random Recipe Saturday Afternoon: Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats.

I was talking with a friend last week about Rice Krispies Treats. She mentioned she made them recently, and I thought, “Well, gee, I haven’t; maybe I should make some Rice Krispies Treats. Maybe I should make some Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats. Maybe I should make some Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats!!” And so it was.

Whenever I make Rice Krispies Treats, I think of my mom – not because we made them all the time – but because we made them once, and either used way too many marshmallows or way too small of a saucepan. I don’t remember which is was now, but let’s just suffice it to say that marshmallows were all over the place. We laughed then, and both still laugh to this day when we think about it. I’m even laughing now. 🙂

Anyway for these, I started off with this recipe, but made a few minor modifications (and used a very large saucepan). My version is below. Enjoy!

don’t you know how sweet and wonderful life can be?

Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats.

What you’ll need:

3 TBSP unsalted butter

1 bag (10 oz) regular sized marshmallows

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

6 cups  Rice Krispies® cereal

1 bag (12 oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips

What you’ll do:

In a large saucepan, melt the butter. Add the entire bag of marshmallows, and stir until they’re completely melted. Remove from heat, and add the peanut butter, mixing thoroughly. Add the Rice Krispies, and stir until evenly coated. Spray or grease a 9″ x 13″ inch pan, and press the mixture into the pan, with a greased spatula or your (clean) hands. Put it aside. In a medium saucepan, melt the entire bag of chocolate chips. Spread the melted chocolate evenly on top of the treats in the pan. Let cool for about 10 minutes, then refrigerate until the chocolate sets completely – I gave it an hour. Let them warm to room temperature before serving – otherwise the chocolate will be too hard!

confessions of a cereal killer.

 

I started this “Small Indulgences” thing because it’s what I believe in – one does not need to eat a large amount of dessert in order to enjoy it. In fact, that often has the opposite effect – we all know the drill – you’re at a party, there’s cake, you eat it. You’re still at the party, there are cookies, you eat them. You’re hanging around the party, the host is yawning and mentioned it’s past her bedtime 7 times, there’s cookie and cake crumbs, you eat them. And they were great going in, but the next morning, you’re full of guilt and regret, as you do the walk of shame over to the scale, hang your head, in a “not again” slump, and vow to never repeat this gluttonous act of over-indulging.

umm, i gotta go...i'll, uh, call you later.

Anyway, having fallen prey to this scenario myself, I realized it was not worth the grief, thus I made a conscious effort never to have a one night confectionery stand again. I also made it my mission to help others achieve the same goal – by making fabulous desserts in smaller portions and proving to the world that it’s not the size that counts; it’s how you eat it.

I have a confession. I do make it a point to never over-indulge in sweets. And I hold myself to that standard on a daily basis.  I said I don’t over-indulge in sweets. I never said anything about cereal. I am, in no uncertain terms, a cereal killer.

my most-loved victim.

I buy a few boxes a week. I keep it to the healthier ones, because I know what’s going to go down. I sit down at night to relax, after having my healthy dinner, possibly with a bowl of ice cream, and then, as if on auto-pilot, I reach for the cereal box. I  open it up, stick my hand in, grab a fist-full of dry, crackly greatness, and start shoveling it in, mindlessly, while doing something else, like blogging, reading, watching TV, etc. Next thing I know, I’ve housed half the box, and still want more, but my self-control finally makes an entrance at this point, and angrily slaps the box away.

It’s the same old scene every time. I kill a box every two days. This is not an exaggeration. Funny thing – for all my love of cereal, I’ve never baked anything that had any type of cereal involved. Probably because I wouldn’t be able to resist it, thus destroying the entire principle on which my baking philosophy is based. Sorry folks – the cereal is mine.