Description
Buddy The Elf Rice Krispies Treats are a fun and festive twist on the classic marshmallow cereal treats, packed with crispy chow mein noodles, colorful M&M’s, and chocolate Pop-Tart chunks. Coated with a luscious maple syrup butter sauce and topped with melted chocolate and extra sweets, these treats offer a delightful combination of textures and flavors perfect for any celebration or holiday party.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- Cooking spray, for greasing
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter
- 3/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt or kosher salt
- 2 (10-oz.) bags mini marshmallows, divided
- 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- 2 (10-oz.) cans crispy chow mein noodles (such as La Choy)
- 2/3 cup (110 g) yellow, brown, and green M&M’s, divided
- 4 chocolate Pop-Tarts, broken into chunks, divided
- 1/4 cup (40 g) semisweet chocolate chips, melted
Instructions
- Prepare the Pan and Melt Butter: Line a 13″ x 9″ baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease it with cooking spray to prevent sticking. In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter completely.
- Add Syrup and Cook Mixture: Stir in the pure maple syrup with the melted butter and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture begins to bubble and thickens slightly, about 2 minutes. Add the salt and marshmallows, reserving about 3/4 cup of marshmallows for topping.
- Melt Marshmallows: Continue cooking and stirring frequently until the marshmallows are fully melted and the mixture is smooth, approximately 5 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Stir in the Rice Krispies cereal and crispy chow mein noodles until all are thoroughly coated with the marshmallow mixture. Quickly fold in half of the M&M’s and half of the chocolate Pop-Tart chunks.
- Press Mixture into Pan: Transfer the sticky mixture into the prepared pan. Lightly coat clean hands or a flexible spatula with cooking spray, then press the mixture evenly into the pan to form a compact layer.
- Add Toppings: Drizzle melted semisweet chocolate over the top of the treated mixture. Sprinkle reserved mini marshmallows, remaining M&M’s, and remaining Pop-Tart pieces evenly on the surface, gently pressing them down to ensure they adhere to the treats.
- Cool and Cut: Allow the entire pan of treats to cool completely so they firm up. Once cooled, cut into 24 squares for serving.
Notes
- Be sure to grease your hands or spatula before pressing the mixture to prevent sticking.
- The crispy chow mein noodles add a unique crunch—don’t skip them!
- You can customize the M&M colors and Pop-Tart flavors to suit different seasons or holidays.
- Use parchment paper for easier removal and cleaner edges when slicing.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with a plant-based alternative and check marshmallow ingredients.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square (approximately 1.5 x 1.5 inches)
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
