Hi folks.
Before we get to today's post just a quick announcement. The winner of the Minnie Mouse apron is Deea from Sprinkle Some Sunshine. Congrats to Deea. If you shoot me your address I can pop it in the mail tomorrow when I send out my foodie penpal package. Thanks to everyone who played along.
Today is a lovely day. The kind of day you want to share with others. You are asking yourselves, "why oh Lunatic, why is it so lovely?" Well let me tell you why. I have the wonderful Hidden Ponies with us today to share a fantastic recipe. If you do not already know Anna and Chelsea then you must stop by their blog and say hello. These ladies are class acts with a touch of sass. You should rush over and see the "Why Hidden Ponies" page. You will laugh out loud at Anna's story about the name of the blog. There is such range with recipes from Thai Chicken Pizza to Fluffy Homemade Marshamallows to Hot Pizza Dip to Bacon, Steak, & Onion Grilled Wraps to my personal favourite Almond Joys. I was delighted when I emailed Anna to ask if she'd like to guest post, and she kindly said yes. Then I learned it's her first guest post and was tempted to play some practical jokes or things of that nature but figured I'd better be professional. So without further ado I give you the lovely and talented Anna from Hidden Ponies.
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Hi all!
I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend and are coming up with many brilliant ways to use up all the leftover ham floating around…I’d love to hear your ideas since I have my fair share of remains! Pea soup is definitely in the plans, but that will make the smallest of dents in my pile – I hosted 9 people for Easter dinner but failed to take into proper consideration the fact that 5 of those present were children aged 5 and under, who could not be counted on to overeat as we adults generally can.
I’m thrilled to be posting here on Kim’s site today. I love visiting Cravings of a Lunatic for her recipes, stories, and positive energy – I love reading blogs that lend a corner of positivity and light to the internet world and Kim is a one-of-a-kind light! She was kind enough to invite me to do my very first guest post, and I must confess I’m pretty nervous about letting her or her readers down. There’s something easy about blathering on over on my own blog, but on someone else’s special internet space it is nervous making.
But what better way to calm one’s nerves than with a couple cups of Nutella?
Well, certainly a couple cups of a lot of things might do it, but they aren’t as acceptable at all times of day, so I’ll keep my bottles tightly closed Especially since I am a firm believer in eating my calories – how sad is it to fill up and fatten up on drinks when there is so much delicious food to be had? I have ambitious plans to be a pleasantly plump old lady (my husband has been warned) and I plan to get there in the most enjoyable way I can think of – by eating delicious food and not breaking a sweat too often.
You definitely won’t need to break a sweat for these easy-peasy NO BAKE bars! (How was that for a segue way?! I know right.)
I’ve seen so many variations of Rice Krispie squares all over the place, and I love what a versatile treat they are. You can make them as kid-friendly or adult-friendly as you like, and really, they’re generally kind of everyone-friendly. I had a big tub of Nutella I needed to use up, but if you don’t like Nutella you could just as easily make these with peanut butter or any other of your favourite nut butters! If you do, let me know – I love peanut butter treats so I imagine these would be even more addicting for me if I went that route!
Ingredients
- For the Base:
- 4 cups mini marshmallows
- ⅛ cup butter
- ½ cup Nutella
- 3 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- For the Topping:
- 1 cup Nutella
- ¾ cup dark melting chocolate roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Lightly grease a 9x13” or 11x11” baking pan and set aside.
- Melt the marshmallows and butter together in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the Nutella and stir until smooth. Stir in the cereal until evenly coated. Dump mixture into prepared pan and pat to smooth with the back of a spatula sprayed with cooking spray.
- For the topping, combine all ingredients and microwave in 15-30 second increments, stirring after each increment, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Pour over the base and gently spread it evenly over the squares. Transfer to fridge, uncovered, to chill for at least an hour before cutting. Store squares in the fridge or at cool room temperature.
Kim, thanks so much for having me, and everyone else, thanks so much for reading! I hope you’ll stop by and say “hi” sometime over at Hidden Ponies, where my sister Chelsea and I blog about delicious, accessible, everyday foods and the laughs we get out of everyday life!
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Okay so now I need to crack open the Nutella immediately. This looks super delish. Did you know they sell Nutella at Costco now in a 2 pack? Yup, life is perfection now.
Thank you so much for guesting for me today Anna. I am so pleased you agreed to do this. You are inspiration with your positive attitude and zest for life. I always look forward to your posts. Great food with great company. It does not get any better than that!
I would like to invite all you Lunatics out there to stop by Hidden Ponies and follow them. You will not be sorry. You can follow Anna on Twitter, and the girls on Facebook. Show them the love folks. They deserve every bit of it.
Toodles and smoochies! xx
Dara
OMG I am obsessed with Nutella. Unlike you, I don't make adorable recipes with it, but rather eat it straight out of the jar. I will def be trying these if I have any left. Great guest post.
Kim Bee
Lol Dara, at least your honest.
Tina@flourtrader
So sweet of you to have Anna guest posting here. I even enjoy the plain rice krispies, but after seeing this, I will not be going back to plain! Nutella does make everything better and that rich topping-delicious. Great guest post!
Kim Bee
Thanks so much for popping in Tina. I agree, Nutella makes everything better. And now that we know there's double packs at Costco life is complete if you ask me.
Anna @ hiddenponies
Thanks so much for having me Kim, and for your sweet words!! I loved being here 🙂
Kim Bee
Anna it was totally my pleasure. I am so glad you did this for me. The squares are ah-mah-zing! xx
Zoe
This non-bake bars look so choco-licious! What a great post!
Kim Bee
Isn't it awesome. I am so glad she brought this cuz now I know what to make this weekend when I bake.
Ann
Thanks for the introduction, Kim! These are incredible!
Kim Bee
She really did a wonderful job. Love me some Nutella!
Suzanne
oh I was just wanting a recipe for rice crispy treats with nutella, gotta try this one out!
Kim Bee
Let us know how it turns out.
Dale Kordish
I find it very, very difficult to mix the Nutella mixture with the Rice Krispies. It got hard before I could spread it. Others have said same. What am I doing wrong. HELP
Kim Beaulieu
Hi Dale. It should be warm from the oven which makes it easier to mix. Were you heating it up on stove? Happy to help in any way I can.
Meg @ Sweet Twist
YUM! I might just have to make these this weekend.
Kim Bee
Me too! Easy and yummy, best recipe combo!
FreeSpiritEater
Nutella rice krispie squares!!! I WANT!!! It's nice to meet you Anna and I will most certainly be stopping by the site your sister Chelsea and you share. Thanks for introducing us to these lovely ladies Kim!! Have a great weekend ladies!
Kim Bee
Thanks for visiting my dear. I see you are wedding dress shopping. Hope you have a blast. I can't wait to see photos of your wedding day. xx
Kristina
Omygoodness these look AMAZING! I am obsessed with Nutella, I'm always looking for new excuses to bake with it! Delicious guest post!!
Kim Bee
I just tried Nutella for the first time last year. Had no idea what I was missing. It's wicked good.
Ramona
These look like one of the best versions of rice krispie treats I have ever seen!! Holy cow!
Kim Bee
Aren't they the bomb!
Sandra's Easy Cooking
Oh wow..those look AMAZING! What a great treat with my favorite food..Awesome guest post!!!Enjoyed it very much!
Kim Bee
I think there should be a foodie Nutella group for those of us who love it.
Suzi
You know I have never eaten rice crispy squares of any kind, where have I been. These look delicious and thanks Kim for again introducing me to another foodie. Hi Anna, love your krispy squares.
Anna @ hiddenponies
Hi! Thanks so much for your comment 🙂 Plain rice krispie squares are one of the first things I remember helping my mom make as a kid - you really must try some 🙂
Kim Bee
Seriously? You gotta try some. They are to die for. So good.
Kiri W.
Holy cow, DELICIOUS. Man. I cant really talk right now. YUUUUUM.
Kim Bee
Lol Kiri. I know I felt the same way.
Cucina49
Anna, those are some gorgeous bars! I've seen variations on these before, but the Nutella really makes them special.
Kim Bee
Nutella is like the food of the gods I think. Just makes everything better.
Tobias @ T and Tea Cake
So true about posting on someone else's blog! Having just had the pleasure to be a guest blogger on just one cookbook, I know that while it is such a great experience, there also is that little voice in one's head saying 'Don't mess it up. Just. Don't.". 😉
Your squares surely are to die for and having them each day will make you become plump sooner than you can call yourself old. ;))
Anna @ hiddenponies
Haha, you're right, these are definitely helping in my goal 🙂 I still consider them healthy-ish due to all the breakfast foods - cereal and Nutella are kind of good for us, right?
Kim Bee
I loved your comment. I say if you're gonna eat this stuff do it early in the day so you have all day to burn it off. Or eat more of it. That's just my way of thinking.
Anita at Hungry Couple
I generally prefer to eat Nutella or peanut butter straight from a jar. Sometimes I even use a spoon. But this looks tempting enough to actually use the Nutella in a recipe. Yum!
Anna @ hiddenponies
LOL, you can snack on lots with a spoon as you make them at least...
Kim Bee
I laughed at your spoon comment. I am one of those people who have to put it in something. I can't just eat it straight. But I'm the same way with peanut butter and now Biscoff.
Dana
These looks so good, they would not last long in my house, Nutella is something we keep on hand!
Kim Bee
I mean you have to keep it on hand. It should be the law. 1 jar in every home, minimum.
Jennie @themessybakerblog
Oh my goodness, these look so good. I'm drooling! I want one!
Kim Bee
Only 1? I want 10, just for quality control purposes obviously.
Kate @ Food Babbles
Wow! This needs to happen in my kitchen soon. These sound incredible! I already have the pleasure of knowing Anna and Chelsea through First on the First so I was drawn in immediately by seeing them on your site as well as the dangerous Nutella deliciousness. Great choice for a guest post!
Kim Bee
I love their site. Everything always looks so fresh and pretty. I just love their positivity too. Thanks so much for coming by to check them out. Nutella rules!
Marina@Picnic at Marina
I think I can smell Nutella through the screen! Fantastic desert!
Kim Bee
Lol, would smellovision be awesome. We should try to make that happen.