Spring is in the air, and Easter is just around the corner! What better way to celebrate the season than with some delicious and colorful rice crispy treats? Whether you’re looking for a fun activity to do with the kids or a sweet treat to share with friends and family, these recipes are sure to be a hit.
Recipe 1: Classic Rice Crispy Treats with a Easter Twist
Ingredients:
- 6 cups crispy rice cereal
- 4 cups mini marshmallows
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup Easter M&M’s
Instructions:
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan over low heat.
- Add the mini marshmallows and vanilla extract to the saucepan, stirring constantly until fully melted and combined.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the crispy rice cereal, stirring until fully coated.
- Fold in the Easter M&M’s until evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
- Transfer the mixture to a greased 9×13 inch baking dish, pressing it down evenly with a spatula.
- Let the mixture cool and set for at least 30 minutes before cutting into squares and serving.
Nutritional Information:
Each serving (1 square) of these rice crispy treats contains approximately:
- Calories: 150
- Total Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
- Sodium: 80mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 30g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugars: 20g
- Protein: 1g
Cooking Time:
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Cooling time: 30 minutes
Equipment:
- Large saucepan
- 9×13 inch baking dish
- Spatula
Serving Suggestions:
These rice crispy treats are perfect for an Easter party or as a sweet snack during the spring season. Serve them with a glass of cold milk or hot cocoa for a comforting treat.
Variations:
If you want to switch things up, try adding different types of Easter candy, such as jelly beans or Peeps, to the recipe. You can also use food coloring to dye the marshmallow mixture different pastel colors for a festive touch.
Substitutions:
If you don’t have crispy rice cereal on hand, you can substitute it with other types of cereal, such as corn flakes or Cheerios. You can also use regular-sized marshmallows instead of mini marshmallows, but you will need to adjust the quantity accordingly.
Storage:
These rice crispy treats can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, you can freeze the treats in a freezer-safe container for up to 1 month.
Tips:
- Grease your baking dish with cooking spray or butter to prevent the treats from sticking.
- Use a spatula to press the mixture firmly into the baking dish to ensure that it sets properly.
- Let the treats cool completely before cutting into squares to prevent them from falling apart.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Can I use regular-sized marshmallows instead of mini marshmallows?
- Can I make these rice crispy treats ahead of time?
- Can I freeze these rice crispy treats?
Yes, but you will need to adjust the quantity accordingly. Use 1 bag of regular-sized marshmallows (10 ounces) for this recipe.
Yes, you can make them up to 3 days in advance and store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
Yes, you can freeze them in a freezer-safe container for up to 1 month.
Recipe 2: Easter Bunny Rice Crispy Treats
Ingredients:
- 6 cups crispy rice cereal
- 4 cups mini marshmallows
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- Pink food coloring
- Candy eyes
- Pink jelly beans
Instructions:
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan over low heat.
- Add the mini marshmallows and vanilla extract to the saucepan, stirring constantly until fully melted and combined.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the crispy rice cereal, stirring until fully coated.
- Transfer the mixture to a greased 9×13 inch baking dish, pressing it down evenly with a spatula.
- Let the mixture cool and set for at least 30 minutes before cutting into bunny shapes using a bunny-shaped cookie cutter.
- Melt the white chocolate chips and vegetable oil in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until fully melted and smooth.
- Add a few drops of pink food coloring to the melted white chocolate until you reach your desired shade of pink.
- Dip the top of each bunny-shaped rice crispy treat into the pink melted chocolate and place on a sheet of parchment paper to set.
- Add candy eyes and a pink jelly bean nose to each bunny-shaped treat using a dab of melted white chocolate as glue.
- Let the treats cool and set for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Nutritional Information:
Each serving (1 bunny-shaped treat) of these rice crispy treats contains approximately:
- Calories: 200
- Total Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
- Sodium: 60mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 31g
- Dietary Fiber: 1g
- Sugars: 21g
- Protein: 2g
Cooking Time:
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Cooling time: 30 minutes
Equipment:
- Large saucepan
- 9×13 inch baking dish
- Spatula
- Bunny-shaped cookie cutter
- Microwave-safe bowl
Serving Suggestions:
These Easter Bunny rice crispy treats are perfect for an Easter party or as a fun activity to do with kids. Serve them with a glass of cold milk or hot cocoa for a sweet and comforting treat.
Variations:
If you don’t have white chocolate chips on hand, you can use vanilla candy melts or white chocolate candy melts instead. You can also use other types of candy or sprinkles to decorate the bunny-shaped treats.
Substitutions:
If you don’t have crispy rice cereal on hand, you can substitute it with other types of cereal, such as corn flakes or Cheerios. You can also use regular-sized marshmallows instead of mini marshmallows, but you will need to adjust the quantity accordingly.
Storage:
These Easter Bunny rice crispy treats can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, you can freeze the treats in a freezer-safe container for up to 1 month.
Tips:
- Grease your baking dish with cooking spray or butter to prevent the treats from sticking.
- Use a spatula to press the mixture firmly into the baking dish to ensure that it sets properly.
- Let the treats cool completely before cutting into bunny shapes