Soft and chewy Rice Krispie bars loaded with rainbow sprinkles (jimmies, nonpareils, or rainbow chips) make fun afternoon snacks or birthday party desserts.
Grease a large mixing bowl and an 8-inch or 9-inch square pan with butter or cooking spray.
Pour the cereal into the bowl.
Reserve 1-2 tablespoons of the sprinkles and pour the rest into the cereal.
Begin melting butter in a large saucepan set over low heat.
Toss in the marshmallows.
Continue to stir, occasionally, until about 75% of the marshmallows have melted.
Remove the pan from the heat and continue to stir, smashing the marshmallows, until they melt completely.
Pour the melted marshmallows over the cereal and stir until well blended.
Gently spread into the square pan.
Toss the remaining sprinkles over top.
Press down on the top of the cereal treats to ensure the sprinkles are secure.
Allow the treats to cool at least 30 minutes before cutting into 16 squares.
Notes
To use rainbow chips:
If using rainbow chips, wait until the marshmallow cereal treat mixture cools for 5 minutes before stirring them in.
Large batch ingredients: (9x13 pan)
7 cups crisp rice cereal
¾ cup sprinkles
6 tablespoons butter
16 ounces marshmallows
3 tablespoon sprinkles
To melt in the microwave:
Heat butter and marshmallows on high power for 1 minute, then remove and stir.
If needed, heat for 15-second increments, stirring vigorously after each, until melted.
Storage:
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
To freeze, wrap well in non-stick tin foil or wax paper, then over-wrap in a zip-top bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for at least one hour before removing the treats from the bag.