How to Make Crispy Puffed Rice Treat Strawberries

Marshmallow rice treats are a time-honored favorite snack. With a little extra effort, you can take those treats and turn them into a snack that is delicious and decorative, by turning crispy puffed rice treats into mock strawberries.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• red food coloring
• white granulated sugar
• plastic "strawberry tops" You can find these at your local bakery supply store.

Teach an Old Treat a New Trick

1. Over medium heat, melt butter, then add marshmallows until melted. Stir constantly. Add vanilla, mixing well.

2. As soon as marshmallows have melted into butter, add puffed rice cereal, being sure to get all the cereal coated with the marshmallow and butter mixture. Remove from heat. Let cool for five minutes.

3. Use a clear plastic glove to handle cereal mixture to avoid having it stick to your hands, or butter your hands well. Take about a walnut sized handful of cereal mix and shape into "strawberries."

I dip, you dip, we dip!

4. 
    
   Plastic strawberry tops add a finishing touch!

   Mix two to three drops red food coloring into two cups white granulated sugar. If you want darker red for your berries, add two or three more drops red food coloring. Mix well.

5. Take the "strawberry" shaped cereal mix and dip immediately while still warm into red sugar.

6. Insert plastic strawberry top into each berry and let cool on waxed paper.

7. Wrap each "strawberry" in a square of plastic wrap and tie with green curling ribbon for an extra festive touch.

Tips & Warnings

• Alternatives: dip each berry into melted chocolate or carob coating before dipping into red sugar.
• Use strawberry flavored gelatin mix instead of red sugar for added flavor.
• Do not use foil to cool berries or to wrap them. It will stick and be nearly impossible to remove.

[grouch]

on 1/7/2008 This sounds so cute. I used a mini muffin pan the other day but I suppose you could find just about any shape in the candy making isle at the hobby shop. Have you ever tried that cereal with the dried berries in it? Might give those little shapes a little more zing.