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The following article was published in our article directory on June 28, 2013.
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4th of July Rice Crispy Treats- Cereal Bars with flavor that will "explode" in your mouth

Article Category: Food and Drinks

Author Name: Rick- Deluxe Sweets and Candy Gifts

Independence Day is here and it's time to celebrate with friends and family. Whether you are around the pool or having a barbeque at the park make sure you bring something unique to the party. The deluxe rice crispy treats are sure to be a hit. Not only are they the delicious marshmallow treats you grew up with, but they offer an additional flavor "explosion", they are chocolate covered. And to boot I have decorated them just like sugar cookies. Check out the American flag, Statue of Liberty and patriotic star shapes.

I think one of the things I like most about these cereal bar treats is that they are filling. So not only are they tasty and decorative, but they are the perfect hunger stopping snack, but yet not over filling and heavy. I had fun making the other decorative holiday rice crispy treats, but there was something special about these treats I particularly was fond of. I really love the American flag and star treats, they just look so appetizing. Check out the pics on my site if you'd like or just take a peek at the recipe and overview of the decorating directions.

Ingredients for 4th of July Party Favors Rice Crispy Treats

6 Cups Sugar-Coated Crisped Rice Cereal
3 Tablespoons of Butter (sticks)
1 Bag of Mini Marshmallows (10 oz bag)
1 Package per Color of Merckens® or Wilton's® Chocolate Coating Wafers (12 oz.)- Green, Yellow, Red, White and Blue

Extra Supplies for Making and Decorating 4th of July Party Favors

Statue of Liberty, Star, Eagle, Flag Cookie Cutters
Medium or Large Plastic Sauce Squeeze Bottles (one per color)
Zipper, sealable Plastic Bags
Rubber Spatula

Directions for 4th of July Party Favors Rice Crispy Treats

1. Prepare baking dish. Spray baking dish and set aside. Measure and set cereal in large mixing bowl and set aside.

2. Butter and Marshmallows. Melt butter in sauce pot on low heat. Once the butter starts to melt add the bag of marshmallows. Stir with wooden spoon or plastic spoon.

3. Candy Flavoring. Once marshmallows are completely melted and in liquid form remove from heat. Add one drop of peppermint candy flavoring and stir well.
 
More on Candy Flavorings and Mixed in Candy

Candy flavorings are oil based and come in tiny glass bottles. The best variety of candy flavorings can be found on the internet. For this 4th of July I would recommend cherry or apple. The flavors go well with a theme, but feel free to choose your own.

I like to mix in candy to the cereal mix to add more flavors and extra texture to create a contrast the "bite experience". This extra biting element makes the overall enjoyment of eating the treat, kind of like biting into raisins in cereal. Not to mention the combination of white coating on the rice crispy treats and milk chocolate from the M&Ms® makes a good contrast of flavors of sweet and semi-sweet. Here are some other examples below of both candy flavorings and mixed in candy.

Candy Flavorings:
Cherry, bubble gum, grape, raspberry, mango, root beer, key lime and many more!

Mixed in Candy:
M&Ms®. They are great to mix into the cereal and marshmallow mixture to enhance the taste and add an extra texture to bite into. They are one of my favorite candies to use in deluxe rice crispy treats. The hardness gives a contrast of texture and a powerful taste that gives your palate a different experience to enjoy other than the sweetness of the white chocolate.

4. Combine Melted Marshmallows and Crisped Cereal. Pour marshmallow mix from sauce pot into cereal in large bowl.
(Optional) You can mix in candy like gummies, M&Ms® for extra flavor and to add another texture to your rice crispy treats. Sinking your teeth through the crisped cereal then biting into the gummy candies or hard-shelled mini chocolates is like biting into raisins in your breakfast cereal. Create a well in the mix and drop the gummy candy (or the candy you've chosen) inside. Spray wooden spoon with cooking oil and stir well.

5. Press Crisped Cereal Batter into Baking Sheet. Press mix into large baking sheet with sides then place in refrigerator for about 15-20 minutes to harden faster. This step will also make it easier to shape the treats with the cookie cutter.

6. 4th of July Cookie Cutter. Remove from refrigerator and press 4th of July cookie cutter into mix. Use left-over mix to press into cookie cutter in order to top off treats. Stuff as much mix into the cookie cutter for each rice crispy treat. The fuller the treat, the easier it will be to cover in chocolate and the more uniform each one will be. Set treats on tray and keep aside for the time being.

7. Melt Chocolate. Now it's time to melt the chocolate. And here's my NEW easy way of doing it. It makes everything easier by saving time and eliminating lots of cleaning. What more do you want? You will use the microwave. Choose one color at a time. Place half the package in a zipper-type plastic bag. Warm up chocolate for one minute on 50% in the microwave. Remove and press the chocolate with your fingers working the chocolate. If soft and liquid go to next step, if not repeat the steps, but in 15-second intervals. (Make sure to reset power each time to 50%.)

8. Plastic Squeeze Bottles. Now we will transfer the chocolate into the plastic squeeze bottles. Cut off an end of the plastic bag and place into the squeeze bottle. Squeeze out the chocolate into the bottle. Repeat melting steps with both colors before proceeding to next decorating step.

TIP 1: To keep chocolate warm and liquid pour some water into a wide mug or large cup, then place bottle inside. Then place the glass in the pot of warm water.
TIP #2: I have a separate, individual burner. I keep it closer to my work area on top of a heatproof surface like a cutting board. This way I don't have to walk back and forth to the stove.
 
9. Decorate Rice Crispy Treats. Squeeze the chocolate onto treats. Work with one treat at a time. These squeeze bottles will make life easier. There are different techniques you can use. You can either use create details with chocolate like borders, messages or necessary lines. Or I use candy decorations either to improve the treats attractive presentation like red colored sugar on a red surface or as an actual design like sugar pearls for crown points. Adding any of these decorations must be applied to wet chocolate so they adhere to the treat.

Decorating Techniques
I focus on two different techniques. I prefer either applying different candies or using the sauce bottles to create chocolate details. Here are some recommendations:

Use mini M&Ms®, different colors of sugar crystals, other small hard candies, sprinkles or non-pareils.

Sprinkle Nerds® on top, these are very tart and taste and their shape resembles tiny stones. Their crunchy characteristic and tangy taste add more flavors and something extra to bite into.

Use different colors of chocolate to create stars, lines, dots, swirly lines, etc.
TIP: Color your own sugar crystals using liquid food coloring. Pour in some large, granulate sugar crystals; I use turbinado, into small, sealable plastic bags. Scoop up some food coloring with toothpick and drop into the bag. Work with your fingers until all sugar changes color.

10. Packaging. Place the treats in cellophane bags and tie off with a ribbon.

Keywords: 4th of july,rice crispy treats,marshmallow treats,party favors,chocolate covered,recipe,Independence Day

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