Cleaning Out the Pantry with Peanut Butter M&M Rice Krispy Treats

I know that I just posted about rice krispy treats a few days ago, but they are so simple to make that it inspired me to whip up another batch. I wanted to make artistic rice crispy treats to go along with my art history presentation to make the 13-straight days of presentations less boring, and I decided that as long as I included colorful m&ms, that these would fit the bill.

I had a 3/4 full bag of marshmallows, a nearly empty jar of peanut butter, left over Easter m&ms. To eliminate all of these baking odds and ends in one swoop, I decided to do a variation on my favorite snack. When the sugar pangs strike and we are out of candy, I always throw a few mini marshmallows, some peanut butter, and a few chocolate chips in the microwave for 12 seconds (this really is the perfect amount of time). Hence the inspiration for this delicious treat.

Peanut butter+butter+marshmallows

Stir until smooth

Add in cereal like usual

Think of these treats as fluffernutters with Rice Krispy cereal instead of bread and with m&ms added. Hungry yet?

Peanut Butter M&M Rice Crispy Treats

Ingredients 

• 3 tablespoons salted butter
• 4 cups of mini marshmallows or a bag of large marshmallows
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 5 cups Rice Krispy cereal
• 1 1/2 cups M&M’s (or equal parts m&ms and chocolate chips)

Directions

1. Butter a 9×13 pan and set aside.
2. Melt the butter in a large non-stick saucepan over low heat until melted, then stir in the peanut butter and stir until combined. Add the marshmallows and continue to stir them until fully melted.
3. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the Rice Krispies. Once the cereal is fully mixed in, stir in one cup of the m&ms.
4. Use a buttered spatula to evenly press the mixture into the buttered pan. Press the remaining m&ms into the top of the rice krispies.
5. Allow the rice krispy treats to cool for bout 20 minutes, then cut them into bars. Bon appetit!

The Easiest Cookies You Will Ever Make…Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies with M&Ms

Today I feel very fortunate to be celebrating my 2 1/2 year anniversary with my incredible boyfriend, Goose. He is not only my best friend but also the love of my life. Every month I try to cook something special to  show him how much I care, and this month I decided to cook Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies with M&Ms (after his suggestion of something peanut buttery)

I almost feel like it’s cheating to give him so simple, but the delicious combination of peanut butter and chocolate make these cookies addictively delectable without having to do any baking magic.

1 bowl + 2 types of chocoalte + 6 other ingredients = pure deliciousness

These cookies take a mere 10 minutes plus 12 minutes of cooking time so you could make them while watching the Golden Globes tonight without missing much.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies with M&Ms

adapted from Divine Baking http://www.divine-baking.com/2011/04/best-peanut-butter-cookie-ever.html

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all natural, smooth peanut butter
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup m&ms

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir until combined
3. Use hands to shape the cookie dough into 1 tbs size balls, and place them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet
4. Bake for 10-12 minutes
5. When cookies are firm enough to transfer, allow them to finish cooling on racks

These cookies are so easy that you don’t have any excuse to mkae them. They are the perfect thing to bake with your family tomorrow when eveyone has a day off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

How are you spending your Monday off sweet readers?