Eggnog Cookie Dough Rice Krispie Treats

These were a huge hit at our house!  Eggnog Rice Krispie Treats covered in eggnog cookie dough and then sprinkles ... festive and addictive. 

Stephen especially liked these. He normally isn't a fan of my recipes because they either 1) include chocolate, pumpkin, nuts, or mint or 2) are healthy or rich. I can't help him, I know. But these, these he liked and according to my family, "when Mary Frances and Stephen can agree on a desset, you know it's good."

Although Stephen and I rub each other the wrong way sometimes, I do love him. He's a cookie dough fanatic and will make his own batch of eggless cookie dough for dessert (because he doesn't like my Candied Pecan Cheesecake Tart)  He is like me in being an extroverted control freak (which is why we don't always get along) and can be an excellent teacher to his younger sisters. He's kind of stuck in the middle, which challenges him a lot. He has to be the youngest of three boys in a row and also the oldest of two little sisters. It's tough sometimes and I often forget to appreciate his struggles and gifts. 

One thing I have really enjoyed doing with Stephen is taking photos. He loves taking pictures and if he can handle the camera, he will.  He is more than willing to take pictures of me and honestly, he is really good at it.

We took Christmas photos yesterday and afterwards, did some individuals for the fun of it. I really like photo sessions (what can I say ...) and its different when he is taking my picture vs. mom. Like, I can tell him how to hold the camera, etc. because I'm his big sister. I won't need to help him for long though!  He is also really photogenic. Want to practice photography?  He and I will sign up ... Luke, not so much:)  Our family's personalities, as they should, run the gamut!

These Rice Krispie Treats are some of my all time favorites. I really like eggnog, for one, and cookie dough. If I had to choose, I would prefer a brownie base, but I am not one to turn down a Rice Krispie Treat. It's amazing how good marshmallows and cereal taste together!  You bite into smooth cookie dough and then crunchy, sticky cereal bars, eggnog in ever bite.  And I love how cute the sprinkles are. I just can't get enough sprinkles. We have a Christmas themed sprinkles can (?) that has different Christmas jimmies, sprinkles, and sugar and I'm definitely going to be taking advantage of it in the next couple weeks!

  

Eggnog Cookie Dough Rice Krispie Treats 

Recipe Source: The Sweet {Tooth} Life 

Yield: 16 servings

Eggnog Cookie Dough: 

2/3 cup sugar 

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

2/3 cup flour

1 tablespoon eggnog

1/2 teaspoon rum extract 

A pinch each, of salt and baking powder 

Eggnog Rice Krispie Treats: 

1 bag (10 oz) marshmallows 

2 tablespoon butter 

1 teaspoon rum extract 

6 cups Rice Krispie Cereal 

Christmas sprinkles 

For cookie dough: Beat butter and sugar together. Add eggnog, rum extract, baking powder, and salt and stir until combined. Add flour. Set aside

For Rice Krispie Treats :

Melt butter and marshmallows in a pot.  Once melted, remove from heat and stir in rum extract. Immediately stir in Rice Krispie cereal and press into a lightly greased 9x9 pan. Let cool. Spread cookie dough over cold Rice Krispie Treats and sprinkle with sprinkles. 

Notes: you can omit the eggnog and run extract for plain cookie dough Rice Krispie Treats. Confession, Stephen did like the plain version more than the eggnog, but he did like both! 

Related recipes: 

Mini Wheat Rice Krispie Treats

 

No Bake Peanut Butter Cereal Crack Bars {Gluten Free}



Fudgy Sugar Cookie Dough Brownies

 

Caramel Apple Granola

Everything about this granola is right.

Clumpy, sweet, crunchy, chock full of autumn flavor and healthy to boot. 

 

Let's break down why this granola is different than all the other apple granola recipes out there. 

I used egg white because I read it helps granola clump more. Since the clumps are my favorite part, I decided to try it, just to see what would happen. It did turn out clumpier, but it might be from not stirring it as much in between bake times. Who knows ... it does give extra protein, I guess! ;)

 

I shredded the apples vs. chopping them just to see what it would turn out like and I really liked the result. The granola is a little chewier in some places because of the apple shreds, but it gives it a stronger apple flavor and more consistent texture. 

I used Rice Krispies. They truly make it crispier!  I've started mixing them into all my granola because of that. 

Finally, I don't know if you can truly call this a caramel sauce, but it's close enough for me.  I cooked coconut oil, brown sugar, honey, and spices together and by iitself, the sauce is strongly spiced and very sweet, but distributed over 6 cups of oats and Rice Krispy cereal, it mellows out into toasty warm granola.  I do believe the way I made it this time have it a deeper flavor boost than others times I've tried this.
 

 

There you have it!  What are you waiting for?  This stuff is so good and healthy for you. I've snacked on if for days (in fact in eating it right now ...) and I love that it fills me up.  If you're gonna eat an apple for breakfast, this is the way to do it!
 

Caramel Apple Granola

Recipe Source: The Sweet {Tooth} Life 

Yield: 6-7 cups

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup brown sugar 

1/2 cup honey

1 teaspoon cinnamon 

1 teaspoon nutmeg 

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 teaspoon vanilla 

1 egg white 

4-1/2 cups oats (add more if it seems too soggy) 

1/12 cups Rice Krispy cereal 

2 medium apples, shredded 

Add ins: raisins and walnuts 

Preheat oven to 325. 

For caramel: Combine first five ingredients in a medium sized pot. Bring to a boil and cook over medium heat until slightly thickened, about two minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for a couple minutes. 

In a large bowl, whisk applesauce, vanilla, and egg white until combined and frothy. Pour in caramel mixture and stir until combined. Add oats, Rice Krispy cereal, and shredded apples and stir until all the oat mixture is coated. 

Spread on two lightly greased baking sheets and bake for 30 minutes. Stir granola and then bake for 10-15 more minutes or until browned. Let cool for at least a couple hours before storing. 

Want more apples?

Apple Crisp:
 

 

Appleless Applesauce Granola Scones:

 

And then Ms. Jocelyn and Ms. Aimee from Inside BruCrew Life and Shugary Sweets (respectively) had an apple week this past week!  Go check their recipes out. In dying to try all of them (especially the caramel apple bars and the pound cake!)

Life has really picked up speed the last couple weeks and I haven't had as much time for the blog world.  The posts may be shorter and not as often, but that doesn't mean I love it any less!  If I seem MIA, I'm probably taking a physics test or at a volleyball game:)  The most exciting that happened this week was family pictures last night and an all day volleyball tournament today.  Have you had a busy week? 
Hugs,
Mary Frances

No Bake Peanut Butter Cereal Crack Bars {Gluten Free}

Hey there!  How's everyone doing? Before I get to the recipe, I thought I'd share some highlights from my week.

Summer has been moving fast this year. Something is going on every day, yet I love the flexibility of summer that lets you just get together with people for the fun of it. Although I have enjoyed lots of activities this summer, I haven't had very much time with friends.  So getting to spend a couple hours one on one was a blast.

Golf tournaments are over!  Now that I've been playing for a while, I really wish it would keep going. We finished the two day championship yesterday and although my score was exactly the same as last week, I felt like I had improved. Just wish my score could reflect my feelings;)  It was incredibly hot, but playing consistently made it really fun. 

Sewing lessons!  I've finished a couple baskets and we are almost done with skirts. I'll post pics of those soon. I've really enjoyed getting to sew and be creative in that way. 

Vacation Bible School was this past week and I truly enjoyed it. It was great meeting and leading with other kids my age from our church and also getting to be a crew leader. My group was all boys and one especially was a piece of work. There were times when he would blatantly disobey me and other times just throw his arms around me in a hug. I couldn't ever decide if I wanted to clobber him or hug him back:)  Call it being stretched and challenged. Although I got so many sympathetic looks and comments, this little boy was what I needed. It was a really great VBS. 

And I made these bars. 

I'm gonna cut to the chase and let you know, I think these are illegal.  They are that good.  I remember Mom coming home after lunch and looking in the pan, saying, "Wow, these must've been popular!"

Uh well, you see ... I was the only one who ate any:)  My siblings were interested in finishing up the zucchini bars, but I wanted these. 

Just FYI, peanut butter and no bakes are goners around me.  So much so, that there was enough gone from the pan that my mom thought my many siblings had had their share. (Don't worry, they did come to their senses and finish what was left of the pan for me.)

These are sweet, very peanut buttery and crunchy. The first day they are very crunchy, but the longer you let them sit, the softer the chex and crispies get, almost making them better. They are still crunchy, don't worry, but the peanut butter and corn syrup mixture has soaked into the chex. Seriously, I don't know why these are so ridiculously addictive, but they are. I haven't eaten half a pan of something in a loooooong time.
 

 

No Bake Peanut Butter Cereal Crack Bars {Gluten Free}

Recipe Source: The Sweet {Tooth} Life. Yield: 12-16 servings.  Adapted from Averie Cooks

1 heaping cup peanut butter
1/2 cup corn syrup (light colored, not lite)

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon vanilla 

1-1/2 cup Rice Krispys cereal 

2 cups chex (rice or corn)

1/4 cup chocolate chips

2 teaspoons shortening

Lightly grease a 9x9 pan. 

On the stove top, chine peanut butter, corn syrup, sugars, cinnamon and vanilla. Cook on low heat until combined and smooth, about a minute. Remove from heat and stir in chex and rice Krispy treats. Immediately press into prepared pan. 

Let cool for about 5 minutes. While it is cooling, melt chocolate chips and shortening. (I put them in a ziploc bag and microwaved it for about 15-30 seconds.  Then, I sealed the bag and squished the chocolate chips and shortening in it. Then I cut one of the points and piped the chocolate on.  Ifthe  chocolate is too runny, go ahead and let it cool and firm up before piping it on. But however you do it is fine!)  Spread or pipe  chocolate topping onto cooled bars.

Note:  Apparently, rice krispies are NOT gluten free.  After reading this article, you can eat them if you are not celiac.  I am not gluten free, so please, do what is best for your diet!

Cut and serve or store in an airtight container. 

Like I said, peanut butter no bakes are some of my most favorite things ever.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bites

Pretzel Buckeyes



Fudgy Walnut Butter Sprinkles No Bakes

Crispy Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Mini Wheat Rice Krispie Treats

Ever played truth or dare? (I personally avoid it depending on the crowd I'm with.)  The gist is a person chooses to be asked a question they have to answer truthfully or to be given a dare they have to complete.

Well, if you asked me if these are ordinary treats then I would have up say no.

 But then I would dare you to try one.

This is a twist on the traditional Rice Krispy Treat.  We've all made 'em and we've all eaten 'em (if you haven't, you can start with these because it is practically un-American to not have done either of the above) and now you can enjoy them a new way.  I love Mini Wheats.  And I have been dreaming of a way to incorporate them into something.  They bring a crunch and chewiness and a new level of sweetness to the Rice Krispy Treat.  (And without the cranberries, they look just like the original.) All you need is a pot and your two hands. You know, one to stir and one to pop Mini Wheats in your mouth.  

 

 My siblings and I loved them. Even more than the original.  

Mini Wheat Rice Krispie Treats

3 tbsp. coconut oil

10.5 oz. marshmallows

3 cups Mini Wheats*

3 cups Rice Krispies

3/4 cup dried cranberries (optional)

Melt coconut oil on stove and add marshmallows.  Stir until completely blended and smooth.  Add Mini Wheats and Rice Krispies and cranberries, if desired.  Press into a greased 9x13 pan.  Use greased spatula to spread out, if necessary.

*I put my Mini Wheats in a Ziploc bag and just pounded it with the heels of my hands.

This is with the cranberries.  Another twist in taste and texture!  Now, a note of warning: whichever version you do, make sure you rinse your pot out ASAP. That marshmallow is sticky stuff and as good as it tastes in your mouth, it is a pain to scrub.  Licking your fingers is one thing, the pot is another.  That I don't recommend. 

My siblings grabbed them without even questioning if there was anything different with them.  (My mom's first question is not "what is it?" but "what is in it?")  I wonder if I am sometimes like that with magazines or tv shows.  Am I just grabbing what they say to be true and believing it? 
 

Truth is a big deal. Actually it's a huge deal. We base decisions off of truth. Let's say if I believe the truth is that chair can hold my weight, then I will sit in the chair. (Duh!)  If I believe that acceptance is based on perfection, I will work incredibly hard to never show my failures.

Truth correctly reflects reality. Often what we believe is our perception of reality which is often skewed by clever lies. That's when we run into trouble. Everything we do is based on what we believe to be true and if we believe a lie, then our decisions will lead to dead ends. Those dead ends include hating ourself, coveting others, being discontent, etc.

Jesus is the truth. The way. The life. Hating ourselves is not life. Being discontent is not life. When I find myself doing those things, I can probably trace it back to some lie I've been believing. That's why it's so important to make the truth from the Bible my truth. We all deal with different lies. The awesome thing is Jesus is trained to deal with all those lies. There is none His truth cannot conquer. It is so important to have a solid foundation for our decisions and actions and only His truth is that solid foundation. Because of Him, we can dare to live out the truth.

Emergency No Baking

Oh great. 

You just receive word that you're supposed to bring a dessert to the gathering you're leaving for in 30 minutes.  Cookies and brownies take too long to bake, anything fancy is out of the question, and heaven forbid you bring store bought treats.

Instead of panicking, you can now bring a delicious, healthy dessert that only takes five minutes to prepare.  Uh huh, just five.  (I think it took longer to wash the pan than to make the bars themselves.)And who doesn't love the combo of peanut butter and chocolate and the fact that it is healthy?

Now that is great.

With no bakes, the sky is the limit.  There are hundreds of no bake recipes and really no way to mess them up.  I've tried several, upped some ingredients, added some of my own, simplified others and come up with a no fail no bake sure to deliver. 

Crispy Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

1/3 cup + 1 tbsp. creamy peanut butter
1/3 cup honey
2 tbsp. coconut oil (or butter)
1 tbsp. cocoa powder
1 tbsp. milk
1 cup oats (old fashioned or quick)
1 cup Rice Krispies
1/2 cup or more dark chocolate chips

Mix first five ingredients in a pot and heat.  Once mixed and thinned, add oats and Rice Krispies.  Press into a 9x9 pan and press chocolate chips on top.

Voila!  You're done!  Isn't that easy!?!?  And, they're super yummy . . . people can't stop eating them, especially kids.  Seriously, you could have them for snack or even breakfast.  I did!