S'more Rice Krispie Treats

When it's somewhere between 85-100 degrees outside, you don't want to turn on the oven. Most of the time I will, because I'm crazy and love cookies and cakes and all things that must be baked, but sometimes, you just can't.

Yesterday was one of those days. I had the idea for s'more rice krispie treats in my head basically since I had made the S'more cupcakes. So when I deemed it too hot to try out another cookie recipe in my head, I knew that it was finally time for these s'more treats to come to life.

I love s'mores - there's something just so summery about them. Maybe it's the association of bonfires, barbecques, fire pits and almost any summer party back home in NJ that seems to end with s'mores, a stomachache from eating too many toasted marshmallows plain, and the marshmallow fights my friends would have that seemed to result in us wasting a bag of marshmallows (shameful). I have a few more ideas for s'more desserts, but I'll do my best to spread them out. Though a s'mores week doesn't sound half bad... I'll get back to you on that.

Anyway. These treats are super easy, super fast, and super delicious. The biggest plus side? No need to turn the oven on. All you need is the stove top on low heat. This way you won't be the ones baking inside your home. With the Fourth of July this week, these would be a perfect treat to bring to a BBQ and no one has to know how easy these were to prepare! The crunch from the cereal and the graham crackers, the slightly melted mini chocolate chips throughout, and the pillows of mini marshmallows ensure a s'more tasting rice krispie treat without losing patience while having to wait for the marshmallow to slowly roast. If I had a kitchen torch, I would layer the rest of the mini marshmallows from the bag on top and roast them so you get even more of a roasted marshmallow flavor or you could pop them under the broiler for a minute - I just wanted to avoid my oven at all costs.

Side note - have any of you just shoved the marshmallow into the fire so it would catch on fire, blow it out, and then deem it roasted enough because you weren't patient enough to wait the 5 minutes for a perfectly roasted marshmallow? I definitely have. Whoops.

S'more Rice Krispie Treats

makes a 9x13 pan

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 10-oz bag regular sized marshmallows
6 cups Rice Krispie cereal
1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Spray a 9x13 pan liberally with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, add rice krispie cereal and graham cracker crumbs. Stir until well blended. Set aside.

In a large saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Once butter has melted, add the 10 oz bag of marshmallows. Stir until marshmallows are melted completely. Remove from heat.

Pour marshmallow mixture over the cereal mixture. Use a spatula sprayed with non-stick spray to fold ingredients together. Once mixed, add in the mini marshmallows and mini chocolate chips, folding everything together.

Pour the mixture into the 9x13 prepared pan. Wet your hands and then press the mixture into the pan. Let cool. Cut into bars and enjoy.

[source: adapted from my pumpkin rice krispie treats]