Celebrate love and sweetness this Valentine’s Day with our delightful Valentine’s Rice Crispy Treats! These charming, heart-shaped treats are not only a feast for the eyes but also a joy to taste. Infused with the crunchiness of Rice Krispies and the gooeyness of marshmallows, each bite is a blend of textures and flavors.
Adorned with vibrant Valentine M&M’s and festive sprinkles, these treats are perfect for sharing with loved ones, adding a special touch to classroom parties, or simply enjoying as a whimsical snack. Let’s create these adorable and delicious treats that are sure to win hearts!
How to Prepare Valentine’s Rice Crispy Treats
- Preparation of the Baking Pan: Begin by lightly coating a 9×13 inch baking pan with cooking spray. This step ensures that your treats can be removed easily once they’re set.
- Melting Butter with Flavor Enhancements: In a sizable saucepan or Dutch oven, gently melt the salted butter over a low to medium flame. Once melted, enrich the butter with a dash of vanilla extract and a pinch of sea salt, stirring to combine the flavors evenly.
- Marshmallow Fusion: Introduce the mini marshmallows to the buttery mixture. Keep stirring consistently until the marshmallows are completely melted and smoothly integrated with the butter.
- Combining with Rice Krispies: Take the pan off the heat. Start by mixing the marshmallow blend with the Rice Krispies cereal partially. It’s important not to fully combine them at this stage.
- Adding the Valentine’s Touch: Now, fold in the Valentine M&M’s, ensuring they are evenly distributed. Complete the mixing process to ensure a uniform combination of cereal, marshmallows, and M&M’s.
- Setting the Mixture: Transfer this festive mixture into your prepared baking pan. Spread it out evenly across the pan.
- Sprinkle Magic: While the mixture is still warm, sprinkle the Valentine’s-themed sprinkles over the top. This ensures they adhere well to the marshmallow mixture.
- Shaping with Love: Once the mixture is set, use a heart-shaped cookie cutter, either regular or mini-sized, to cut out the treats. Start from the edges and work your way towards the center to maximize the number of hearts you can create.
- Ready to Serve: Your scrumptious, heart-shaped Valentine’s Rice Crispy Treats are now ready to be served and enjoyed.
Valentine’s Rice Crispy Treats
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 6 cups mini marshmallows
- 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- 10 ounces Valentine M&M’s
- 1/4 cup Valentine sprinkles
Instructions
- Pan Preparation: Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking pan using cooking spray.
- Butter Melting Process: In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, melt the salted butter over a heat setting that ranges from low to medium.
- Enhancing Butter: Blend in vanilla extract and sea salt into the melted butter.
- Marshmallow Integration: Add mini marshmallows to the butter, stirring continuously until completely melted.
- Initial Cereal Mixing: Remove the mixture from heat. Begin combining it with the Rice Krispies cereal, ensuring it's only partially mixed at this stage.
- Adding M&M's and Final Mixing: Fold in the Valentine M&M's and then continue mixing until the cereal, marshmallows, and M&M's are fully integrated.
- Spreading the Mixture: Evenly spread the mixture into the prepared baking pan.
- Adding Sprinkles: While the mixture is still warm, evenly distribute the Valentine sprinkles on top.
- Cutting into Hearts: Once set, use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the treats, starting from the edges and moving towards the center.
- Serving: The Valentine's Rice Crispy Treats are now ready to be enjoyed!
How to Store Valentine’s Rice Crispy Treats
Storing these treats is as important as making them to ensure they retain their delightful texture and taste. Place the treats in an airtight container, separating layers with parchment or wax paper to prevent sticking. They can be kept at room temperature for up to a week. For longer storage, you can refrigerate them, but be aware this might change their texture slightly. It’s not recommended to freeze these treats as the Rice Krispies may lose their crispiness upon thawing.
