Peppermint Bark Rice Krispie Treats

I’m a Peppermint Bark fanatic this time of year!

I stumble around grocery stores blindly grabbing anything with the words “peppermint bark” on them and throwing them into my cart. It must be good.

 

And my grocery lists look like a laundry list of peppermint bark versions of everything.

 

How refreshing.

 

Last year, I practically cried when I had a hankering for a candy cane in October and all the pumpkin craze hadn’t died down enough for the stores to start stocking candy canes. A bit dramatic? Um, no.

 

So, it’s probably no surprise that on the top of my Trader Joe’s list was their amazing Peppermint Bark Baking Pieces! It’s a bag of chopped up bark, making any treat burst with chunks of chocolate and minty goodness…mmm…

 

Now, I’m going to put them in everything. So, if you’ll please excuse me. Or actually, if you’ll please join me…

Oh, and if you don’t have a TJ’s (like me…but I drive 4.5 hours to go to the one in St. Louis while visiting my parents), grab some bags of the Andes Peppermint Crunch holiday bark and chop them up…but it’s not the same. But you can still play along.

 

Peppermint Bark Rice Krispie Treats

(makes a 9×13” pan of Krispie treats)

5 cups mini marshmallows

3 Tbs. butter or margarine

6 cups puffed rice cereal (Rice Krispies, or gluten-free variety)

1 cup Peppermint Bark Baking Pieces (Trader Joe’s)*

3-4 Tbs. crushed peppermint pieces

*OR you can use the Andes “Peppermint Crunch” candies, chopped up

~Line a 9×13” baking dish with parchment and spray with nonstick spray.

~In a large, microwave-safe mixing bowl, microwave the butter/margarine for 1 min, until it is melted. Then, add all of the marshmallows, stir to coat, and microwave for 1 min 30 seconds, stirring half-way through, until melted. Microwave for an additional 30 seconds if the mallows aren’t completely melted.

~Work quickly to stir in all of the cereal. When the cereal is almost completely mixed, add the Peppermint Bark Pieces, give the mixture just a couple stirs (don’t vigorously mix or else the chocolate in the bark will melt).

~Transfer the mixture to your prepared pan and press evenly into the pan. Sprinkle the peppermint pieces evenly over the top and use your fingers or spatula to press the pieces into the top of the pan of treats (so they don’t fall off when they’re served). Let set for 30 min until completely cooled before cutting. To make cutting a bit easier, spray your sharp knife with nonstick spray before cutting!

 

PS! I am entering this recipe into Shelly and Kristen‘s Creative Holiday Recipe Contest! Wish me luck 🙂