Halloween Crispy Rice Treats

Whip up spooky marshmallow treats with green, purple, and chocolate spiders for a creepy Halloween snack.

Serves 9 servings Medium

Our own summary of the original by Food Network Kitchen — the full post and photos live at foodnetwork.com.

These Halloween crispy rice treats are made in two colors—green and purple—layered in a pan, then topped with marshmallow webs and chocolate spiders. The recipe uses marshmallows, butter, cereal, food coloring, and chocolate chips, with decorations like chocolate-covered peanuts or jellybeans. Perfect for a festive party or ghoulish gathering.

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray

Two 12-ounce bags marshmallows

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons

Green gel food coloring

Purple gel food coloring

9 cups crispy rice cereal

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Halved chocolate-covered peanuts or black or orange jellybeans, for decorating

Directions

Line a 9x13-inch baking dish with foil, leaving a 1-2 inch overhang. Spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray.

Take out half of the marshmallows from one bag and set those aside. Split the remaining 1.5 bags of marshmallows equally between two large microwave-safe bowls. Add 3 tablespoons of butter to each bowl.

Microwave one bowl for about 45 seconds until the marshmallows start to soften. Stir well, then microwave for another 30 seconds until fully melted. Mix in green gel food coloring until the mixture is uniformly bright green. Add 4.5 cups of crispy rice cereal and stir until every piece is coated. Repeat with the second bowl: melt, stir in purple gel coloring, then mix in the remaining 4.5 cups of cereal.

Coat your hands with cooking spray (or wear disposable gloves). Use one hand for each color to drop blobs of the cereal mixture randomly into the prepared pan, layering them to create a mottled effect. When all the mixture is in the pan, press it down evenly and smooth the top. Let it cool and set completely, at least 1 hour.

Lift the treats out using the foil overhang. Peel back the foil edges and flatten it to make a work surface. Trim the edges with a serrated knife if desired, then cut into 9 rectangles. Space the rectangles apart on the foil.

Place the reserved half bag of marshmallows in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for about 45 seconds until they begin to melt, stir, then microwave another 30 seconds until completely melted. Stir until smooth. Set aside until cool enough to touch.

Put on disposable gloves. Take a handful of the melted marshmallows and rub them between your hands until you can pull long, web-like strands. Drape these strands over the treats, pulling from different directions to create a cobweb pattern. Add more marshmallow as needed.

Melt the chocolate chips using a double boiler or microwave at 50% power in 30-second bursts, stirring between each, until smooth. Transfer to a piping bag with a small plain tip. Pipe 8 spider legs on each treat, then place a chocolate-covered peanut or jellybean (cut side down) on top of the legs to form a spider body.