Animal Cookie Bars (Printable Version)
# What You'll Need:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
02 -
6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
03 -
10 ounces mini marshmallows
04 -
9 ounces Circus Animal Cookies, smashed up and divided
→ Decorative Additions
05 -
Red gel food color
06 -
3 tablespoons colored sprinkles, split
07 -
1/2 cup white chocolate chips, split up
08 -
Optional: 1/2 teaspoon heavy cream if your melted chocolate needs to loosen up
09 -
3 tablespoons rainbow nonpareils, split up
# Steps to Follow:
01 -
Just leave everything alone on the counter until the bars have firmed up completely, then use a knife to slice them.
02 -
Toss any leftover sprinkles and nonpareils evenly over the top for extra crunch and fun pops of color.
03 -
Put a drop of red food color in the other bowl of melted chocolate and stir till it’s pale pink. If it’s too thick, stir in the cream a little at a time. Move that mixture into a fresh bag, cut off the tip, and zigzag across the top the other way.
04 -
Spoon the plain melted chocolate into a sandwich bag, clip the tip, and draw thin lines back and forth over your bars.
05 -
Divide the white chocolate chips in half and pour each part into a separate small bowl. Pop both bowls in the microwave for about 30 seconds, then mix till totally smooth.
06 -
Spread the mixture in the dish you set up earlier, smoothing it flat with your spatula. Sprinkle the cookie pieces you saved on top.
07 -
Take the pot off the burner, toss in most of the cookie crumbles (hold back that reserved part), cereal, a tablespoon of nonpareils, and a tablespoon of sprinkles. Mix it up well. Drop in another helping of sprinkles and nonpareils, then give it all one more good mix.
08 -
Dump the butter and marshmallows into a big pot over gentle heat. Stir constantly as everything melts together until you get a smooth mix.
09 -
Run the Circus Animal Cookies in your blender or food processor so you get a chunky mix with both crumbs and bigger bits. Set aside half a cup for topping at the end.
10 -
Grease a 9 x 13 baking dish with a little non-stick spray so your bars pop out easily.
# Additional Tips:
01 -
Cutting’s easier if you use a sharp knife and give it a quick slick of oil after things have cooled down.
02 -
Use a tiny amount of food coloring at first or you’ll end up with super red chocolate way faster than you might want.