I don't care how old you are, Rice Krispie treats are ALWAYS good! And although I'm not always a chocolate eater, I'll never say no to a bowl of Coco Pops.

Then I came across these fantastic treats at our local store (the same store that make fantastic Rocky Road bars which inspired my Halloween version). They make Rice Krispie treats covered with a layer of white chocolate. They also do a Coco Pop version made with Mars Bars. Yes please! MORE! GIVE ME MORE!

I remember when I first saw them (followed by quickly purchasing & eating them!) I thought they'd be quite cute with other coloured chocolate patterns drizzled on top, for instance, hearts or silly cute messages for Valentine's Day.

And so, that's exactly what I decided to do. Whether it's for your kid's lunchbox or something simple for your Other Half, you can't go wrong with Treats for your Sweets.

I took it one step further and went down to the South African store to buy a box of Kellogg's Strawberry Pops (as they don't have that cereal here in Ireland) and gave them the same treatment as the Rice Krispie treats but made them into hearts instead. Awwwww, cuuuuuute! :P

If you can't get Strawberry Pops but still want to have the cute pink Krispie treats, you could always add food colouring to the melted marshmallow, it doesn't even have to be pink.

They're easy to make, although rather sticky, and taste fantastic, they also don't cost an arm and a leg, so if you're like my hubby who doesn't enjoy the notion of the Hallmark enforced spend-a-fortune-for-Valentine's-cause-we-say-so, these are a win. Something simple to say "I love you" but without the inflated price tag, 'cause really, do you actually need another "You're my one and only love of my life want to be with you forever and ever and ever" mug in your cupboard? :P

Rice Krispie treats with white chocolate

White Chocolate Rice Krispie / Strawberry Pop Treats

Ingredients

45g Unsalted Butter or Margarine

280g Marshmallows

6 cups Rice Krispies or Strawberry Pops

400g White Chocolate

Powder or Paste Food Colour

Method

Butter a 9"x9" dish or line with parchment paper
Tip: I prefer using parchment as it's easier to remove the treats by lifting them out by the parchment overhang which makes it easier to cut into portions once it's out of the dish
Over a low heat in a saucepan, melt the butter or margarine
Add the marshmallows and stir until melted
Optional: Stir in gel, powder or paste food colouring until you get your desired shade
Remove from heat
In a large bowl, combine the Rice Krispies or Strawberry Pops with the melted marshmallow mixture
Stir until thoroughly combined
Tip: This is the really sticky part and if you're in a cooler climate it's best to do this with your bowl over simmering water so that the marshmallow stays warm, alternatively, melt the marshmallows in a large pot which you can then add the Rice Krispies to
Press into your prepared dish
Tip: I found it best to use a small piece of buttered parchment paper to spread and press the mixture
Leave to set while you prepare the chocolate
Melt the chocolate in a heat resistant bowl over simmering water
Reserve a small amount of the melted chocolate for tinting and keep warm over simmering water
Pour the chocolate over the Rice Krispies and tilt the dish a little in each direction so that the chocolate moves around and coats the top evenly or spread with a spatula
Allow the chocolate to set
Tip: If you want the coloured chocolate to sit on top of the white chocolate, then allow to set until firm. If you want the coloured chocolate to sink a little bit into the white chocolate so it's a bit more flush with the surface, then leave to set until it's completely cool but the consistency is like thick magma
Stir powdered or paste food colour into the reserved chocolate
Tip: Make sure you don't use any water based colouring as the chocolate will seize
Pour the tinted chocolate into a piping bag
Tip: Or you can use a plastic Ziploc bag or similar with a small corner snipped off
Pipe patterns or words onto the surface of the chocolate
Allow to set completely
Tip: If you chill it in the fridge, allow it to sit out at room temperature for 10-20mins before cutting
Cut into squares or shapes with a sharp blade
Tip: To do the hearts, I pushed a cookie cutter through the chocolate layer then used a sharp knife to cut through the Krispies layer using the cookie cutter as a guide

Mars Bar Coco Pop Treats

Ingredients

45g Unsalted Butter or Margarine

6 Mars Bars (58g each), chopped up

6 cups Coco Pops

400g Milk Chocolate

30g-60g White Chocolate

Powder or Paste Food Colour

Method

Butter a 9"x9" dish or line with parchment paper
Tip: I prefer using parchment as it's easier to remove the treats by lifting them out by the parchment overhang which makes it easier to cut into portions once it's out of the dish
Over a low heat in a saucepan, melt the butter or margarine
Add the pieces of Mars Bar and stir until just melted
Remove from heat
In a large bowl, combine the Coco Pops with the melted Mars Bar mixture
Stir until thoroughly combined
Tip: The mixture sets quite quickly if you're in a cooler climate so it's best to do this with your bowl over simmering water so that the Mars Bar mixture stays warm, alternatively, melt the Mars Bars in a large pot which you can then add the Coco Pops to
Press into your prepared dish
Tip: I found it best to use a small piece of buttered parchment paper to spread and press the mixture
Leave to set while you prepare the chocolate
Melt the milk chocolate in a heat resistant bowl over simmering water
Pour the chocolate over the Rice Krispies and tilt the dish a little in each direction so that the chocolate moves around and coats the top evenly or spread with a spatula
Allow the chocolate to set
Tip: If you want the coloured chocolate to sit on top of the milk chocolate, then allow to set until firm. If you want the coloured chocolate to sink a little bit into the milk chocolate so it's a bit more flush with the surface, then leave to set until it's completely cool but the consistency is like thick magma
In a heat resistant bowl over simmering water, melt the white chocolate
Tip: You can also melt it in a microwave but be careful not to burn the chocolate, do short bursts then stir inbetween until chocolate is melted
Stir powdered or paste food colour into the melted white chocolate
Tip: Make sure you don't use any water based colouring as the chocolate will seize
Pour the tinted chocolate into a piping bag
Tip: Or you can use a plastic Ziploc bag or similar with a small corner snipped off
Pipe patterns or words onto the surface of the chocolate
Allow to set completely
Tip: If you chill it in the fridge, allow it to sit out at room temperature for 10-20mins before cutting
Cut into squares or shapes with a sharp blade
Tip: To do the hearts, I pushed a cookie cutter through the chocolate layer then used a sharp knife to cut through the Krispies layer using the cookie cutter as a guide

Rice Krispie and Strawberry Pop Treats recipe adapted from official Kellogg's Rice Krispies Site

Mars Bar Coco Pop Treats recipe adapted from RecipeZaar

Other Tips:

Keep treats stored in an airtight container at room temperature

Best eaten on the same day but will keep for 2 days

Can be frozen for up to 6 weeks

To freeze, place in layers with parchment paper inbetween in an airtight container.
To defrost, stand out at room temperature for 15-30mins or overnight in the fridge

P.S. Happy Valentine's Day :)