In our third Rice Krispies Challenge this year, we were told we need to create a fun and creative recipe with a spooky theme that brings together kids and parents making crafty cereal fun. We looked over the Halloween treats already featured on the Rice Krispies website and then decided to come up with something completely new!

[We are also giving out another $100 gift card per participating blog! Scroll to the bottom for details and to comment to win.]

We also checked out the competition already posting their awesome creations  in The Motherhood Circle (after our recipe was decided on)! Dang, you ladies are creative. Gorgeous work.

Zareen was our gracious team leader this time and had all the supplies ready so that as soon as we got there, we got to work! As we worked, tasted and crafted our surprise, Tara and I talked motorcycles since her husband owns a motorcycle supply website and my husband just bought a jacket for his riding hobby. I think I need a helmet with a face shield but that's another blogpost for another day.  . . .

Back to work. . . talk . . . work. . . talk . . .work. What a fun day with some lovely, lovely ladies!

Here we are creating the base of our spooky scene.

And, of course the unique recipe for our challenge:

Brown Butter Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats – Haunted Pumpkin Patch

Base Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 stick (8 TBS)  butter or margarine
• 1 ¼ tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
• 1 package(about 40) + 10 regular marshmallows
• 2 TBS Pumpkin Puree
• 7 cups   Rice Krispies

Directions

1.       In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Stirring frequently. Butter will foam and then the foam will subside. Brown bits will begin to form at the bottom. Keep stirring. You will smell a nutty aroma and the butter will be lightly brown. Off the heat.

2.       Stir in pumpkin pie spice until incorporated. Add marshmallows and stir. Put the heat back on low and stir until marshmallows are completely melted. Remove from heat.

3.       Stir in pumpkin puree and two drops of red food coloring and 3-4 drops of yellow food coloring (to make desired orange color).

4.       Mix in Rice Krispies until they are fully coated with marshmallow mixture. Turn out onto a wax paper lined baking sheet.

 

To Make Pumpkins:

Ingredients:

• One batch Brown Butter Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats.
• Small Pretzel Sticks
• Green Icing tube with Leaf tip.

Directions:

1.       Allow Rice Krispies Treats to cool for a bit.

2.       Shape into round balls. Insert a 1/3 of a pretzel stick into the tops to act as a pumpkin stem.

3.       Use green icing and an leaf tip to create a small green leaf on the side of the “stem.”

 

To Assemble Haunted Pumpkin Patch:

Ingredients:

• 2 batches of Brown Butter Pumpkin Rice Krispies Treats
• 1 batch Brown Butter Pumpkin Rice Krispies Treats made into Pumpkins
• 1 can Chocolate Frosting
• 2-3 cups Chocolate Cookie Crumbs (crumble plain chocolate cookies in a food processor or blender)
• 1 bag Marshmallows
• 1 bag Pretzel Sticks
• 2 -3 sticks of Black Twizzlers
• 1/3 cup Reeces Pieces
• Peeps Marshmallow Ghosts, assorted miniature Halloween signs, tomb stones, zombies, bats, spiders , ghosts from a craft store for decorating

 

Directions:

1.       Spread a baking sheet with wax paper and spray with cooking spray.  Make 2 batches of Brown Butter Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats and spread out onto baking sheet evenly. Once cooled completely turn over onto  a platter or tray.

2.       Frost Treats with chocolate frosting and cover with cookie crumbs (for dirt).

3.       Create a “fence” around Treats by taking 2 Marshmallows and connecting them with 2 parallel pretzel sticks. Continue to join pretzels sticks and Marshmallows until the fence goes around the tray of Rice Krispies Treats. Adhere the marshmallows to the chocolate frosting.

4.       Make a “path across the middle of the Treats (vertically) with Reeces Pieces.

5.       Cut the tops of the Twizzlers down in thin strips to make tree branches and cut them slightly at the bottom (to make roots) and adhere into the frosting for spooky trees.

6.       Scatter the Brown Butter Pumpkin Rice Krispies Treat Pumpkins around the “pumpkin patch.”

7.       Decorate with marshmallow ghosts and store bought spooky creatures and signs.

 And, more pictures of the creative process:

And the final scene: a spooky Rice Krispies pumpkin treat patch for all to enjoy with a plate of extra pumpkins and ghost marshmallows on the side!

Up close on our pumpkin patch and treats:

Yummo!!

 

{Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in cooperation with a promotion through Kellogg's Rice Krispies and The Motherhood. All thoughts and opinions are my own.}

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