4tablespoons European-style salted buttercut in pieces
10ounces marshmallows about 40 regular OR 6 cups mini
7 to 10pretzel sticks
4 to 5spearmint leaves candy
Instructions
TIP: Spray all of your bowls and spatulas to keep things less messy.Line a baking tray with parchment paper and set it aside.
Spray a large bowl with cooking spray and add Rice Krispies cereal.
Place pieces of salted butter in a medium saucepan and set over low heat. You do not want to overheat the marshmallows.
After the butter begins to melt, add marshmallows. Stir frequently until about 75 percent of the marshmallows are melted.
Remove from the heat and stir the mixture until all of the marshmallows have fully melted and the mixture is smooth.
Stir food coloring into the marshmallow mixture until desired shade is reached. This may take a good bit of food coloring.
Scrape the marshmallow mixture over the Rice Krispies and mix well until the cereal is evenly coated. Remember, using a greased spatula helps here.
Scoop about 3 to 4 tablespoons of the mixture and place on the parchment paper. Repeat with the rest of the cereal. You should have about 20 apples.
Grease your hands with cooking spray OR rinse with water and shape each apple into a ball. Do not worry if your apples are perfect, they will be easier to shape when chilled.
Chill in the refrigerator for one hour.
Remove from the refrigerator. Re-shape the apples if needed.
Break a pretzel stick into 2 to 3 pieces and insert in the top of the apples for stems.
Snip the Spearmint leaves into small pieces and attach, sticky-side down, to the apples as "leaves."
Notes
To melt the marshmallows and butter in the microwave:In a large, microwave-safe bowl, place 4 tablespoons of butter and 10 ounces of marshmallows.Microwave on high for 1 minute then remove and stir vigorously, using the residual heat to fully melt the marshmallows.If needed, you may microwave for additional 15-second intervals, stirring vigorously until melted.