Chocolate Mint Rice Crispy Treats

What inspires you to create a recipe? Most of the time, I end up taking elements from several recipes and piecing them together. Take these Chocolate Mint Rice Crispy Treats for example. At the store, I found a bag of chocolate mint marshmallows. I've been experimenting with flavored marshmallow rice crispy treats (such as these peppermint ones and a gingerbread one I never posted), so I wanted to try mint. However, I wanted to add a little more pizazz. I remember seeing a recipe for a layered bar where the base was a rice crispy treat, the middle was a peanut butter mixture, and the top was a chocolate glaze. Then I got the idea to turn the filling into mint, very similar to grasshopper brownies, and top that with a simple chocolate glaze. I love the texture of these bars - the crispy base balances well with the smooth buttercream and glaze on top.






If you can't find chocolate mint marshmallows, you can use regular marshmallows with some peppermint extract. I used regular rice crispy cereal, but next time I would try chocolate. It didn't even occur to me until I melted the marshmallows and realized the cereal had a weird shade of brown. I threw in some chocolate chips to help make it look more chocolatey, but I don't think I saved the color too well. Color aside, these treats definitely packed a powerful mint flavor. You are instantly hit with a smell of peppermint every time you open the storage container to grab one (which I absolutely love).




These treats earned me the nickname Diet Ruiner because right now, my building is participating in a weight loss contest. Hey, I'm just here to test your willpower :)

Chocolate Mint Rice Crispy Treats

Crispy Treat:
• 3 Tbsp butter
• 1 package (10 ounces) chocolate mint marshmallows OR plain marshmallows + 1/4 tsp peppermint extract
• 6 cups crispy rice cereal, either plain or cocoa
• 1/3 cup chocolate chips
Mint Filling:
• 1/4 cup softened butter
• 2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2-3 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• Green food coloring
Chocolate Glaze:
• 3 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped into chunks
• 2 Tbsp butter

1. Line 9-inch square pan with parchment paper. Melt butter in large saucepan on low heat. Add marshmallows; stir constantly until melted. Remove from heat. Add peppermint extract if using; mix well. Stir in cereal and chocolate chips. Press into pan using a rubber spatula. If needed, place a piece of cellophane wrap or parchment paper on top and press down to flatten the treats. Cool completely.
2. Meanwhile, make the mint filling: cream together the butter and sugar. Add 2 Tbsp of milk, beating until smooth. If it's too thick, add the remaining milk. Beat in peppermint extract and a few drops of food coloring. Spread over the cooled crispy treat layer. Refrigerate for an hour or until firm.
3. Once the mint layer is firm, make the chocolate glaze. In the microwave or in a bowl over a pan of simmering water, melt together the chocolate and butter. Spread on top of the mint layer. Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes. Cut into squares.

Makes 16 squares

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Source: Crispy Treat Layer from a previous post, Mint Filling from Family Fun