Crispy Rice Circus Treats Food

PEANUT BUTTER KRISPY RICE SQUARES

Steps:

• Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper, allowing 1-inch wings to hang over the edges; set aside.
• In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the marshmallows and salt and cook, stirring, until the marshmallows are melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the peanut butter and vanilla (the peanut butter can still be swirly). Add the cereal, crushed graham crackers, chocolate chips and sprinkles and fold with a large rubber spatula to combine.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish, using the spatula to spread it out evenly. Place a piece of parchment on top and then use your hands to press the mixture down very firmly. Top with additional sprinkles as desired. Let the mixture firm up in the refrigerator for 1 hour, then cut into squares.

HALLOWEEN CRISPY RICE TREATS

Steps:

• Line a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with foil to overhang by an inch or two. Spray with cooking spray.
• Remove half the marshmallows from one bag and set aside. Divide the remaining 1 1/2 bags of marshmallows evenly between 2 large microwave-safe bowls. Divide the butter between the two bowls.
• Microwave one bowl until the marshmallows begin to melt, about 45 seconds. Stir well and microwave again until completely melted, about 30 seconds more. Add green gel food coloring and stir to turn the marshmallow mixture an even, vibrant green (see Cook's Note). Add half the rice cereal (4 1/2 cups), stirring well to coat the cereal completely and evenly. Repeat the melting process with the second bowl of marshmallows and butter, tint with purple gel food coloring and mix in the remaining 4 1/2 cups rice cereal.
• Grease your hands with cooking spray (or use disposable gloves). Using one hand for each color, dollop blobs of the cereal mixture in the prepared pan, randomly distributing it to make several mottled layers. Once you have used all of the cereal, press the mixture into the pan to even it out and smooth the top. Let cool and set completely, at least 1 hour.
• Use the foil overhang to lift the treats from the pan. Peel back the edges, flattening the foil to create a work surface for decorating. Trim the treat edges with a serrated knife to neaten if desired and cut into 9 rectangles. Separate the treats on the foil so there is a little space between each.
• Put the remaining half bag of marshmallows in a large microwave-safe large bowl. Microwave until the marshmallows begin to melt, about 45 seconds. Stir and microwave again until completely melted, about 30 seconds more. Stir until smooth. Set aside until the marshmallows are just cool enough to touch.
• Wearing disposable gloves, pull out a handful of the marshmallows and rub between your hands until you can pull long web-like strings when you separate them. Pull the strings and let them drape over the treats, scooping up more marshmallows as needed. Pull from different directions over the treats to create a web-like pattern.
• Melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler or in the microwave at 50-percent power in 30-second intervals, stirring well with a rubber spatula between each, until completely melted and smooth. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a small, plain tip. Pipe 8 spider legs together on a treat and place a chocolate-covered peanut or jellybean, cut side down, on top of the legs to create a spider body. Make a spider on each treat.

EXTRA-MARSHMALLOW CRISPY RICE TREATS

Steps:

• Line an 8-inch square baking dish with aluminum foil and spray generously with nonstick cooking spray. Combine the cereal with 1 bag marshmallows in a large bowl; set aside.
• Melt the butter in a large heavy-bottomed pot or stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the 3 remaining bags of marshmallows and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are fully melted, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Fold half the cereal mixture into the melted marshmallows until well-coated; fold in the remaining cereal mixture.
• Scoop the mixture into the prepared pan. Spray another piece of foil with cooking spray and use it to cover the mixture, pressing gently on the foil to evenly spread the mixture out, getting it evenly into the corners and flattening the top (you can dome the top slightly if you have extra mixture). Place in the refrigerator to set, around 1 hour. Cut into 2-inch squares and serve. Leftovers keep in an airtight container at room temperature, 2 days; or wrap in a freezer bag and freeze.

GHOST CRISPY RICE TREATS

Steps:

• Line an 18-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the marshmallows and cook, stirring frequently, until melted and completely smooth, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and fold in the cereal until combined. Transfer the mixture to the prepared sheet pan. With wet hands, evenly press the mixture into the pan until packed in tight. Let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
• Using a 3.5-inch ghost-shape cookie cutter, stamp out 15 ghosts and transfer to a wire rack set inside another rimmed baking sheet. Place any scraps in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave at low power until they are pliable again, about 15 seconds. With wet hands, press the scraps back into the parchment-lined baking sheet. Let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Use the cookie cutter to stamp out as many more ghosts as possible. Repeat with any scraps, if desired.
• Meanwhile, add the white chocolate to a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until the chocolate is melted, about 1 minute 30 seconds.
• Spread some of the melted chocolate on top of each ghost then sprinkle with the white sanding sugar until covered. For each ghost, press in 2 chocolate chips for the eyes and 1 chocolate chip for the mouth. Let sit until the white chocolate hardens, about 10 minutes. Serve or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.