Chocolate Rice Krispies Treats, Ranch Snack Mix

Leader food columnist Kathleen Brotherton says these treats are great to serve at your Halloween party.

Halloween parties call for both sweet and salty snacks and treats, and if you’re creating your own, neither has to be difficult or time-consuming to make. If you serve these treats at your next party, they’re so yummy they’ll disappear in no time

Rice Krispies treats have been around forever, but if you’re a chocolate lover, these Chocolate Rice Krispies treats may soon become your new favorite. They’re versatile, too, because you can make them into bars or drops.

If you like them, you might want to make them again at Christmas and use green and red M&M’s instead of the Reese’s Peanut Butter candies.

The Ranch Snack Mix is a delicious mix of pretzels, Bugles, cashews and cheddar cheese fish crackers, which taste great together. When you add the ranch dressing mix, with just enough oil to bake in the ranch flavor, it gives all the nuts and other treats a great flavor.

CHOCOLATE RICE KRISPIES TREATS

1 (12-ounce) package milk chocolate morsels

2 tablespoons shortening

2 cups Rice Krispies cereal

3 small snack size packs of Reese’s Peanut Butter pieces

In a heavy 2-quart saucepan, melt chocolate chips and shortening over low heat, stirring constantly, until just melted. Do not bring to a boil. Immediately stir in Rice Krispies and Reese’s Peanut Butter pieces until well blended.

If you want bars, spread warm mixture in a 9-by-9-by-2-inch square pan coated with cooking spray. Chill until firm. To serve, cut into 2-by-1-inch bars.

If you want drops, just drop level measuring tablespoons of the warm mixture onto waxed paper. Chill till firm.

RANCH SNACK MIX

1 (12-ounce) package miniature pretzels

1 (6-ounce) package original Bugles

1 (6-ounce) package Nacho Bugles

1 (10-ounce) can cashews

1 (6-ounce) package bite-size cheddar cheese fish crackers

2 envelopes ranch salad dressing mix

3/4 cup vegetables oil

Take two bowls, and in each one, combine half the pretzels, Bugles, cashews and crackers. Sprinkle each bowl with a package of the dressing mix; toss gently to combine. Drizzle each bow with half the oil; toss until well coated.

Take one bowl at a time and place mixture on a foil-lined large cookie sheet. Place in preheated 200-degree oven. Heat for 5 minutes and place contents in a large bowl. Repeat with second bowl.

When cooled, store in airtight containers. Makes 6 quarts.

Brotherton offers website readers one stellar recipe a week in the “My Leader Yummy” feature.

Looking for a recipe you can’t find? Email me at kbrotherton42@gmail.com and I’ll see if I have it.

(0 Ratings)