Rice Krispies Trail Mix Treats

Yes, that sorry little rectangle you see is all that remained of this recipe before I took a photo. My husband and I demolished an 8x8 pan of these babies in record time!

I was craving Rice Krispies treats, but felt a little guilty about it - not a whole lot of nutritional value in all those marshmallows! Then, I turned the cereal box over, and low and behold, a much healthier alternative! Rice Krispies Trail Mix Treats!

I made a few substitutions when I made the recipe. First off, instead of using a muffin tin, I just pressed them into an 8x8 metal pan - worked just fine. Also, I used sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter - just as tasty! This recipe seems like it could take on a whole lot of added flavors - M&Ms or chocolate chips instead of raisins, dry-roasted peanuts in addition to the sunflower seeds, or even adding coconut into the mix. Try them - I think you (and maybe even your kids) will like them!

Rice Krispies Trail Mix Treats

(recipe courtesy of Melissa d'Arabian, on the back of the cereal box)

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups miniature marshmallows, or 20 regular marshmallows
• 1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups Rice Krispies cereal
• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 cup raisins or dried tart cherries
• 1/2 cup toasted sunflower seeds

Directions:

1. In large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla until peanut butter melts.
2. Add Rice Krispies cereal, oats, raisins and sunflower seeds. Stir until well coated.
3. Portion evenly into twenty 2 1/2" muffin pan cups coated with cooking spray. Firmly press cereal mixture down into cups. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until firm. Use fork to lift treats out of cups.