I’m all about bright hits of color lately. The latest dessert to get shot up with my current color obsession are these cereal marshmallow bars. It’s a simple riff on the classic rice krispie treat, but these are so much more fun–full of brightness and made sparkly with some colored sugar.
And what can make this an even better dessert than all the color bedazzling? More bedazzling. Yep more, or more accurately, with just a few swaps out, you can make this a double duty dessert that can be served on St. Patrick’s Day and Easter.
To make it a St. Patrick’s Day treat, double the glaze and spread it on top for a full layer rather than drizzle and then finish it with a heavy dusting of gold sprinkle. For Easter, swap out the gold sprinkle for some multi-colored pastel confetti, or to give it some added Easter sweetness, sprinkle the top with some crushed Robin Egg candy.
However you choose to skin these cereal marshmallow bars, do it with some color by using Fruit Loops or Trix cereal. And of course if you want to get crazy, throw some freeze dried fruit in there for an added layer of flavor. My recommendation, try adding in freeze dried strawberries and then swap out the milk in the glaze for some lemon juice—see how the variation in this simple recipe can be tweaked a million times over?
That being said, if you have a creative play on these cereal bars, come back and share with the rest of us!
Cereal Marshmallow Bars
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 5 cups (9 oz) mini marshmallows
- 6 cups (6.5 oz) Fruit Loops
- Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 2 tablespoons colored coarse sugar or sprinkles
Instructions
Preparation: Spray a 9x9 pan with non-stick spray. Set aside.
Stir and melt butter and marshmallows in a large saucepan over medium high heat. Stir in Fruit Loops and mix until fully combined. Pour mixture into prepared pan, using your hands press to flatten. Set aside for 1-2 hours to set.
In a separate bowl, combine powdered sugar with milk and stir to combine. Using a spoon, drizzle glaze on top of cereal bars and dust with colored sugar or sprinkles.
You can never have too much color in my opinion! These look fabulous!
So fun for spring! I love all the colors!
These bars wouldn’t last long in our house! Love how Spring-y they look!
These bars are so fun, great recipe!
Aren’t fruit loops the best thing ever! They definitely take me back to my childhood. I am SO loving these bars & your photography of them especially!
I love this idea! Shared it on my facebook page. 🙂
These are gorgeous! And I love all the flavor/topping ideas (especially with Robin Eggs on top, yes please!).
I made these with my campers this summer. They had such a good time!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
These look like the best snacks EVER!! I tried to do something similar once, but they weren’t nearly as pretty. Thanks for all the extra tips/ideas!!
Fruit loops remind me so much of my childhood! They still are my sister’s favorites, I’d love to surprise her with this recipe 🙂
How fun! Deliciousness.
These would be such a big hit with little ones, love the Easter pastels!
These are so much fun! Colorful and delicious!
I have to admit this, you really have a great eye for colors the way you came up to this recipe and those lovely images. Hands down!
Just made these with strawberry marshmallows (leftover from Valentine’s day!) and a combo of Fruity O’s and Strawberry O’s from Trader Joe’s – the remnants of the pan taste delicious – can’t wait to share on Easter!
Love this post, which I just stumbled upon via Pinterest! No matter how old I get, I’m still such a sucker for the sugary cereals of my childhood! These are definitely high up on my baking priority list!
If I can make one recommendation, you suggest to press down with your hands. To avoid a whole lot of stickiness, I used a square of parchment paper between my hands and the pan to press down and not get my hands covered in marshmallow and Captain Crunch : )
Great idea!