October 9, 2015

Colorful Crunch Bars

stacynoren

My daughter is in love with cereal.  Well on some days.  Let’s be honest.  She is two.  This means there are plenty of days when she refuses to eat anything and gets by on childhood energy alone.  However, one of her regular favorites when in an eating mood is captain crunch.  But I realized a while ago that she doesn’t really love the Captain–she loves to sort the Captain and eat his crunch berries.  That is why we often buy the just berries box of captain crunch.  

DSC_0071

She, however, is also a lover of dessert.  This shouldn’t be too much of a surprise with a mother that bakes all the time.  But this does mean that sometimes we make a sticky, gooey treat just for her.  These are her favorite marshmallow treats.  DSC_0064

Crunch Berry Crispies is what we call them and they are as delicious as they are colorful.  Made just like traditional rice treats, we begin by melting the marshmallows and butter on low-medium heat and then mix in the cereal.  These are fun to do with kids because there is lots of stirring for them to do and you can even forget the spoon and just get your hands right on in there if you are feeling so inclined.   If you like to have the big chunks of marshmallow then don’t forget to pour in some unmelted marshmallows as you are stirring.  That way you really get some big gooey bites when you are indulging later.

DSC_0013

DSC_0016

DSC_0019Next press them into an oiled pan and allow them to cool and shape.  I like to press them in with parchment paper, so that I can get a uniformed surface and thickness without having a lot sticking to my fingers or spoon.  When they are cooled into a sturdy shape, cut out with a serrated knife and drizzle with chocolate.  We opt for dark chocolate because it’s intense flavor helps to offset some of the super sweetness that is in a treat made from marshmallows and sugar cereal, but you can use any drizzle that you like. Then enjoy with your little helpers.  Making crispy treats is a right of passage of sorts… and it’s always fun to do with your littles.DSC_0025

DSC_0047

DSC_0072

Colorful Crunch Bars
Yields 18
Write a review
Print
Cook Time
10 min
Total Time
1 hr
Cook Time
10 min
Total Time
1 hr
Ingredients
  1. 3 Tbsp Butter
  2. 1 Bag Marshmallows
  3. 4 C Crunch Berry Cereal
  4. 4 oz Chocolate, melted
Instructions
  1. Melt Butter in over low-medium heat
  2. Pour in marshmallows and allow them to melt while stirring to combine with butter. When melted pour in cereal and stir to combine. Stir in additional 1 C Marshmallows for chunks throughout the bars, optional.
  3. Remove from pot and press into butter pan, using parchment paper to get an even and uniform spread. Allow to cool.
  4. Cut into bars and place on a wire rack. Drizzle with melted chocolate, Allow chocolate to set and Enjoy.
Cake by the Cup Blog https://blog.cakebythecup.com/