Chocolate Rice Crispy Balls

Same great recipe from 2011, but I've updated the photos!

I made these Chocolate Rice Crispy Balls for Christmas a few years ago and LOVED them. It was in Self Magazine as a lighter dessert option for parties. This time around I decided to add a little extra something by covering them in a chocolate/peanut butter coating. Sooo…there goes the lighter dessert option.

You could totally skip the chocolate coating but I had some extra almond bark leftover from when I made Orange Fondants. It was getting lonely just sitting in my pantry. I felt bad.

This recipe makes a huge batch. You’ll end up with close to 80 Rice Crispy Balls. They store well in an airtight container for up to 3 days. They would make a great dessert for a party - travel easily, inexpensive to make and delicious. You could half the recipe and it will turn out just as good too!

You will be working with marshmallow that sets up quick; make sure to have all your ingredients and pans ready to go.

Chocolate Rice Crispy Balls

8 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 bags (10 oz each) mini-marshmallows
10 cups crisp rice cereal
1/2 cup semisweet mini chocolate chips (Optional)

Prepare 2 cookie sheets by lining with baking mats or waxed paper. Set aside. Measure out crisp rice cereal and marshmallows. Set near stove.

In a large saucepan, combine butters and cocoa over medium heat, whisking until melted and smooth. Stir in marshmallows, melting them completely.

Turn off heat and stir in cereal, working quickly before marshmallow mixture sets. If using chocolate chips, add them now. Stir again to combine.

Using a cookie scooper or tablespoon, drop balls onto waxed paper. Don’t worry about neatness just yet. Once all of the mixture is on the cookie sheets, put a little butter or spray butter onto your hands. Pick up each and shape into a ball.

Let set on cookie sheet. Store in airtight container for up to 3 days.

If you decide to cover in chocolate...

For Chocolate Coating
Melting chips or Almond Bark
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
Sprinkles

In a microwave safe bowl, microwave peanut butter and chocolate on 50% power for 45 second bursts, stirring between each bursts, until melted and smooth. Using two forks, drop rice crispy ball into chocolate to coat. Drop on cookie sheet to set up. Add sprinkles.

I typically only coat some of the balls so that there is a mix.

Adapted from Self Magazine, December 2008

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Cloud Bread

One of my co-workers has been asking me to make her Cloud Bread for months. I finally gave in.

This is quite possibly the most interesting thing I've made. It's not actually bread, but a replacement for bread. The recipe calls for eggs instead of flours making it super light and airy.

Pre-Workout Shakes

I wish I was a runner, but I’m just not. I do envy runners and their endurance and figure so in honor of National Running Day I thought I should share a couple Pre-Workout Shake recipes. Then I think I’ll put in my Jillian Michaels DVD and blast some FAT….or something like that.

For those of you that hate running, today is also Go Barefoot Day and Flip a Coin Day. I wonder if Hallmark sells cards for any of these…I hope not…or if they do, they better be 99 cent’ers.

This recipe is from Tosca Reno’s ‘The Eat-Clean Diet Stripped’ book. If you don’t know of Tosca or the Eat Clean Diet you should check out her books and website. It’s a great lifestyle; not a diet, just more eating the right things and eating them at the right times. I enjoy reading about nutrition and foods effect on the body and she breaks it down so it’s easy to understand. I also really like cookies though so she helps me somewhat balance. :)

Pre-Workout Pineapple Blast Shake
Tosca Reno’s ‘The Eat-Clean Diet Stripped’

Ingredients
4 ice cubes
1 cup water
1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
½ cup pineapple chunks

Process all ingredients in a blender until mixed thoroughly and serve.

Ultra Chocolate Oatmeal Shake
Tosca Reno’s ‘The Eat-Clean Diet Stripped’

Ingredients
½ cup precooked plain oatmeal
1 scoop chocolate protein powder
½ cup skim or almond milk

Process all of the ingredients in a blender until mixed thoroughly and serve.

Happy running!  Thanks for stopping by!