Goodbye Superbowl (ugh, my poor 49ers), see ya soon Mr. Groundhog (yes! Spring is in his sights!) but before I break out the daffodils and easter eggs, there’s another holiday in the line-up that I’m more than ready to welcome. Hello my sweet Valentine.
Now, as you may or may not know, I really, really like cookies. So much so, I created two ecookbooks with Maria where we shared her top all-time favorite recipes. And while one of my favorite smells in the kitchen is that of fresh baked cookies, I have a secret affection for sweet treats that don’t require me to even switch on the oven like my Nutella No-Bake Cookies and my Mom’s Fudge. See you later 350 degrees F.
This recipe is deemed to become a favorite. Well, it pretty much always has been. A favorite of mine because it’s so simple to make, and a favorite of Smudge’s because it involves sprinkles, all over the counter and some on the floor. What 8 year old doesn’t dig that? I know the dogs do. My furry garbage disposals. The dogs, not Smudge.
So how do you take a classic recipe like Rice Krispie Treats and make it different? Ah, the age old question. There are some recipes that just can’t be enhanced, revamped or revised to make them better than the original. This recipe may, or may not be an example of that, but therein lies the beauty of rice krispie treats, the recipe is so simple that it can happily absorb a dump of something extra to give it a unique spin.
So let’s pretend we’re back in kindergarten and let’s play with our food. One of the beautiful qualities of working with marshmallow and cereal is that it’s totally malleable, to create whatever shapes you want. I’m not that great of a sculptor so you won’t be seeing any cupids with shooting arrows rice krispie sculptures on this blog. However, a few simple hearts will make the cut.
This is definitely a kid friendly recipe, one they can really get their hands into for about 30 seconds and then spend the next 10 minutes licking and nibbling the sticky marshmallow-ey krispies from their little, messy fingers. Time enough to create as many perfectly formed shapes as you want before they’re back to create perfectly beautiful and haphazard creations of their own.
Topping the sweetness with even more sweetness in the form of vanilla candy coating makes for a perfect glue for the cookie decorations. If you can’t find the candy coating, melt some white chocolate in a double boiler and try that instead.
And certainly experiment with toppings: nuts, coconut, crushed pretzels or candies. It’s all fair game as long as it complements the sweetness of the base and will stick to the coating.
Cookies on lollipops? Have I jumped the shark? I’m hoping you won’t think so since these came about because I am a complete imbecile when it comes to making cake pops, but they’re just so darn fun. I gave them a go once and they were a miserable failure—far, far, farrrrrrr from Bakerella’s 5 year anniversary of her revolutionary sweet treat—so I went the easy route on this one. But, I will conquer the cake pop one day. One day…
Until then, you’ll find me happily playing with my food, making it into simple little shapes for me and my Smudge to better our decorating skills.
And sharing my love with my valentines. Won’t you be mine?
Rice Krispie Valentine Sucker Treats
Ingredients
- 1 10 ounce package large marshmallows
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon red food coloring
- 6 cups rice krispie cereal
- 8 ounces vanilla flavored candy coating
- candy sprinkles for decorating
Instructions
- Place butter and marshmallows in a large bowl bowl and heat on high in a microwave for 2 minutes. Remove, stir and heat for another 2 minutes. Take the bowl out of microwave and stir really well until marshmallows and butter are combined. Add food coloring and mix well. Add rice krispies to the bowl and stir to combine, working fast.
- Mold mixture into a large square, about 9 X 13 X ½ inch thick, on a sheet of wax paper, let cool slightly and cut out heart shapes with a cookie cutter and set aside.
- Melt candy coating in a small sauté pan according to package directions. Spread a thin coat of the candy coating on the top of the heart shapes, place in a wide flat bowl or on a plate and coat generously with candy sprinkles. Insert lollipop sticks in the bottom of each heart or serve on their own as cookies.
Related Recipes
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Sugar Cookies and Heart Shaped Food
Red Velvet Cupcakes
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I want to make about 20 of these for my son’s pre k class what size cookie cutter should I use and what size celephane bags can I buy. They look beautiful can’t wait to make them
Hi Gloria, tt totally depends on what size heart you can find. My cookie cutter is 3 inches across at the widest part. You can figure out a bag from there. Enjoy!
Looks nice but it’s way too sweet!! I woul recommend omitting the chocolate on top. Great idea!
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After finished will it still sticky?
I’m making these for my daughters VDay party. The kids are going to love them
I can’t find any ‘vanilla flavoured candy coating’ ANYWHERE! Would they still work if I didn’t use it? Also, how many does this recipe make??
How long do they last?? If I make them a couple of days before Valentine’s, they will last if I put them in the fridge won’t they?? :)
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Cute, cute, cute cute, cute! These are such a sweet valentine’s gift for loved ones! Very thoughtful and festive. I love that they’re easy to make and I’d probably eat every ounce of the rice crispy treats before I could even shape them into hearts ;) That’s what a double batch is for!
Great idea and perfect instructions! Just made 22 of them for a kindergarten class tomorrow and they turned out beautifully! Thanks so much for the idea!
Hi Laura, I’m so glad they turned out for you! Thanks for checking back and letting me know.
How many does one batch yield?
Depends on how big your cookie cutter is. I had a cookie cutter that was about 3 inches at its widest and I made 12 for my batch, minus the snacking.
I’ve been doing these for years. The easiest way with no waste is to butter your cookie mold then butter your hands. while the krispie mix is still warm, push it into the cookie mold until it’s filled, then press down. turn it over and press down again to make both sides flat. push it out and put the stick in and let it harden. no waste and you get more treats! Love your presentation. best part of this is, no pushing down and hurting your hands on the mold. have fun
Thanks Cyndy, that’s a terrific tip and I agree. The warmer the better for molding. Thanks!
Okay, so these are total perfection for Valentine’s Day. So fun!
THese are so cute! I totally have to make them with the girls this week. Thanks for the idea!
These are too cute, Heidi!
Oh these are adorable!
Oh the cuteness!
I love these! Love! Love! I am going to make for my god daughter!! Love the sprinkles – where did you get?? Have been looking for cute heart shaped ones. Merci!!
Oh thanks Denise. If she’s the least bit girlie she’ll love them. I got the heart sprinkles from a local baking supply co., Orson Gygyi, and I do think the smaller the better for this type of decorating.
That swirly pink marshmallow hot mes…yes, I’ll take that! :)
OMG, I love these!!! I am so going to make these with my daughters! Thank you for the great idea/recipe!
They’re really easy to make too, just be sure to grease up their little hands well before they start cutting them out. They’re super sticky. Which makes for a good snack while decorating.
So cute and easy to make! I think I’ll make them for my co-workers!
These are so cute! I love the color and definitely the ease of these.
Super duper cute!!!! I will have to make one for myself (lord knows E won’t do it).
Krispie Treats are basically my all-time favorite treat!
Shelly, I think they’re one of mine too.
These are beautiful!
These are so adorable!! My daughter just saw these and it’s begging me to make them :) Where are my pop sticks?…
I know what you mean Anna. I made a trip to Michaels to pick up more pop sticks only to come home and discover a whole package in another bin, saved from last year.
Too cute!
Adorable!
These are so festive and cute!
These are truly amazing, Heidi! I love the contrast in the photos!
I am all over this! Heart shaped, sprinkles, count me in!
I’m all in the heart-shaped-baked-things mood too and I love this idea! Both fun and stylish, I bet they taste just as good as they look.
They are pretty much the best of both worlds. Thanks Denise.
Fabulous idea! I love me some sprinkles and can always devour an entire pan of krispie treats.