Make Watermelon Krispie Treats

Eating outdoors, enjoying picnics and BBQ’s with family and friends is always one of the highlights of my summer.  When planning food (or dessert) for a picnic or BBQ, I need treats that travel well, can handle being left out in the heat, and are easy to eat.  Rice Krispies Treats are an ever popular option for casual summer events.  I love “fancy” rice krispies treats and am always on the lookout for creative and delicious variations.  Last summer, I bookmarked these adorable Watermelon Rice Krispies Treats by Dine and Dish and I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to give them a try.  This past weekend, we headed out of town for a family reunion and these cute rice krispies treats were the perfect dessert to bring along.  I placed them on the dessert table and all the kids made a bee-line right for them!  These are quite easy to make, and will draw lots of oohs and ahhs!

Free Video, Learn How To Cook Like A Pro Click Here!

Watermelon Krispie Treats

These cute treats are perfect for summer get togethers

Yield: 16-18 slices

Free Video, Learn How To Cook Like A Pro Click Here!

ingredients:

For the green (rind) outer ring-
4 cups Rice Krispies cereal
4 cups mini mashmallows
3 Tablespoons butter
green food coloring

For the red (watermelon) center-
5 cups Rice Krispies cereal
5 cups mini marshmallows
3 Tablespoons butter
red food coloring

Chocolate covered sunflower seeds, or mini chocolate chips

directions:

Prepare 2- 8″ cake pans by greasing with butter or non-stick spray.

Make the green (rind)-
Add 4 cups rice krispies to a large bowl, set aside.
Melt 4 cups marshmallows and 3 tablespoons butter in a large bowl in the microwave about 2 minutes, or until very puffy.
Carefully remove from microwave, stir, and add in green coloring.
Pour green marshmallow mixture over the bowl of rice krispies. Stir mixture together, quickly, using a buttered spatula.
Working quickly, divide the mixture between the two prepared cake pans, and press along the sides of the pans, creating a ring about 1.5 inches tall and 1-1.5 inches wide/thick. Rub a bit of butter on your hands as necessary, to prevent the mixture from sticking to your hands.

Make the red (watermelon) center-
Repeat as above, using the ingredients listed (left).
Press red mixture into the center of the two cake pans, press down and smoothign the top surface with a buttered spatula.

Add “seeds”
I added chocolate covered sunflower seeds, using a tiny bit of melted chocolate to keep each seed in place.

Free Video, Learn How To Cook Like A Pro Click Here!

Notes- I used the microwave to melt the marshmallows, but of course feel free to melt the butter and marshmallows on the stove top if you wish.
For the coloring- I used 1 drop of Americolor gel in Mint Green for the “rind”, and 2 drops of Americolor gel in Super Red for the “watermelon”

Assembly- Press the green “rind” around outside edge of a prepared cake pan, then make up the red “watermelon” mixture and press it into the center of the pans.

 

I added some “watermelon slices” onto pretty paper straws (first creating a hole using a wooden skewer).  I loved the look of them on the straws and think these would made adorable favors or take-home treats, wrapped in cellophane bags, and tied at the base of the watermelon.

Free Video, Learn How To Cook Like A Pro Click Here!

Candy Corn Krispie Treats For Halloween

This summer I made some fun Watermelon Slice Krispie Treats, and it recently hit me that I could use the same general concept to create candy corn krispie treats!  I love rice krispie treats, and I’m always drawn to fun desserts that incorporate the look of candy corn, so these treats are a perfect combo!

Although the assembly process does take a bit more time than a traditional batch of rice krispies treats… they are still much quicker to make than a decorated cookie, for example.

Free video, Learn To Cook Like A Pro!

Wrap the final treats in cellophane bags, add some fun ribbon and you have an adorable fall or Halloween party favor.

 

Candy Corn Krispie Treats

Traditional rice krispies treats get a festive update for Halloween.

Yield: 16 servings/wedges

ingredients:

For the yellow ring
4 1/2 cups rice krispies cereal
5 cups mini marshmallows
3 tablespoons butter

For the orange ring
2 3/4 cups rice krispies cereal
3 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
2 tablepsoons butter

For the white center
2 cups rice krispies cereal
2 1/2 cups mini marshamallows
2 tablepsoons butter

Yellow food coloring
Orange food coloring

directions:

Assemble your ingredients and gather 2 large bowls (one must be microwave safe), two rubber spatulas, two 8″ cake pans and non-stick cooking spray.

Also, have a stick of butter out, which you will need to use to grease your hands as you handle the krispie treat mixture.

Spray the cake pans with non-stick spray and set aside. Also, lightly spray two rubber spatulas with cooking spray.

For the yellow ring-
Add 5 cups mini marshmallows and 3 tablespoons butter to a large, microwave safe bowl.

Microwave the butter and marshallows about 3 minutes, or until warm and very puffy.

In another large bowl, measure 4 1/2 cups rice krispies cereal.

Carefully remove marshmallows from microwave and add yellow food coloring (I used 2 drops of yellow Americolor gel).

Stir the melted marshmallows, butter and coloring until smooth and fully combined. Immediately, pour the marshmallow mixture into the bowl with the cereal. Use an oiled spatula and stir quickly until fully incorporated.

Free video, Learn To Cook Like A Pro!

Divide yellow rice krispie mixure between the two cake pans, and use your hands to create a “ring” around the inside edge of the cake pan (as shown below), about 1 1/2 inches wide. Rub a bit of butter on your hands as necessary to prevent the mixture from sticking to your hands. Work quickly, as the mixture is more difficult to mold as it cools.

Wash your bowls and spatulas and repeat the same process with the ingredients for the orange ring, and then the white center.

Once your three colors are pressed into the pans, allow to fully cool and set, at least 30 minutes. When you want to cut the triangles (candy corn shapes), flip over your cake pans onto a cutting surface, and tap pan on cutting board to remove krispie treat round. Cut the round large round in half, then quarters, then cut each quarter in half.

To add a cookie stick, or paper straw (as shown), first create a hole with a wooden skewer.

Free video, Learn To Cook Like A Pro!

Free video, Learn To Cook Like A Pro!