Cookbook of the Month Recipe – Whole Grain Marshmallow Crispy Bars |

Cookbook of the Month Recipe – Whole Grain Marshmallow Crispy Bars

Filed under Cookbook of the Month, Dessert - Brownies/Bars

Jul 11
Back before I had heard of del.icio.us, (check it out if you haven’t!) I used to print out recipes that I found online that sounded good or interesting to me. Sometimes, this works out really well, because some of those recipes that I have printed out are no longer online. But really, now all I have is 3 huge 3 ring binders, filled with printed out recipes. I have gone through them and organized them into different types of recipes, but really, these recipes are the ones that get the least use in my house. It’s probably because of my recent addiction to cookbooks and blogs, but really, I know there are some gems in those pages that I need to discover.

There’s one particular print out, that would probably take me awhile to sift through the recipes and find, but for some reason, this recipe has been stuck in my mind for years. And the funny thing about it is that it is so simple – I probably didn’t even need to print it out! If I remember correctly, Martha was having a cookie week, or maybe it was a cookie of the week special. I can’t exactly what it was. But Martha had done a whole assortment of “cereal” crispy bars – not just your typical rice crispy bars. I can remember the photo from the website (which I can’t find now, but it was probably 7 or 8 years ago) where she had all different kinds of bars – Fruit Loops, Cornflakes, Captain Crunch – it was a great variety. A little while back, I saw some Chocolatey Rice Krispy Treats on Stephanie’s blog – Stephanie’s Kitchen – and it reminded me of the Martha Stewart bars.

So when I was going through this month’s cookbook of the month, I ran across these Whole Grain Marshmallow Crispy Bars, and I knew I had to make them. They might seem too simple to even have to have a recipe for, but they were so delicious, and even a little bit healthy. The book said that for testing purposes, they used Kashi GoLean Crunch! cereal for the recipe, so that is what I used. And we loved these! With the whole grain cereal, they are a bit tougher than your normal Rice Krispie Treats, but I think the flavor is so much more. My husband absolutely loved these, and probably ate 2/3 of the pan himself!!

So if you ever need a quick and easy recipe, think about changing up the cereal instead of using your normal Rice Krispies. You’ll be surprised at what a difference it makes!

Whole Grain Marshmallow Crispy Bars
from Southern Living 2007 Annual Recipes

3 tablespoons butter
1 (10.5-oz.) bag miniature marshmallows
1 (15-oz.) box multi-grain cluster cereal
Vegetable cooking spray

1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add marshmallows, and cook, stirring constantly, 4 to 5 minutes or until melted and smooth. Remove from heat.
2. Stir in cereal until well coated.

3. Press mixture into a 13- x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes or until firm. Cut into 24 bars.
41 Comments

41 Responses to “Cookbook of the Month Recipe – Whole Grain Marshmallow Crispy Bars”

dobetter said on July 11th, 2008 at 2:45 pm

Great eye-catching first photo! Love it. And I’m shocked that Kashi GoLean is the cereal of choice, shocked! I love that cereal but never thought to make it this way. Thanks for posting, this is one to try.

[Reply]
noble pig said on July 11th, 2008 at 2:53 pm

Oh yummy and a way to use my go lean crunch…thanks.

[Reply]
Mary said on July 11th, 2008 at 3:04 pm

Well now I know what to bring for the family vacation! I bet these travel pretty well too.

[Reply]
Melissa said on July 11th, 2008 at 3:48 pm

I wonder if you used Kashi Go Lean instead of the Kashi Go Lean Crunch if it would be less tough. The Crunch has a crunchy coating on it that the regular Go Lean doesn’t, and I would think that would lend to the tougher mouth feel.

[Reply]
Melanie said on July 11th, 2008 at 4:23 pm

Cool idea for whole grain treats! And I love your presentation – so cute!

[Reply]
Paula said on July 11th, 2008 at 5:55 pm

Great idea … upscale crispy treats! Yum!

[Reply]
Augustina said on July 11th, 2008 at 6:13 pm

I love your presentation on these bars! they look so cute and tasty.

[Reply]
kat said on July 11th, 2008 at 6:46 pm

what an interesting idea to switch up the cereals.

[Reply]
eatme_delicious said on July 11th, 2008 at 7:01 pm

Love the way you styled the bars! I’ve been craving marshmallow crispy bars for a while now. I used to print out all the recipes I found online and wanted to try, but I wasn’t really fond of that way of doing it because I had masses of paper that I had to search through and might never make some of the recipes. So now what I do is have a separate email (I use google mail) that I send recipes to, including the link to the website I found it at. Then when I do want to make the recipe, I can use the search function of google to search “cookie” or whatever, and I print out the recipe.

[Reply]
Brilynn said on July 11th, 2008 at 7:02 pm

I really like the Kashi cereal! Sometimes simple is great, these bars look like that’s the case!

[Reply]
HoneyB said on July 11th, 2008 at 7:48 pm

Yummy! A good reason to buy some more Kashi Go Lean (and get others in my house to eat it!)

[Reply]
Kelly-Jane said on July 11th, 2008 at 7:54 pm

They sounds delicious, I like these kind of bars, and wholegrain, so at least there is a bit of healthfood in there Who am I kidding, I’d eat them anyway!

[Reply]
Cakespy said on July 11th, 2008 at 8:22 pm

Delicious…and not as un-nutritious as the “other” ones! I’ll bet they’re delicious!

[Reply]
Jenny said on July 11th, 2008 at 9:38 pm

Absolutely adorable! What a cute picture of the bars!

[Reply]
Gabi said on July 11th, 2008 at 9:58 pm

Great pic!
Sometimes the easy ones are the best! Have fun at the Bees if you go- maybe I’ll hear you rooting in the crowd

[Reply]
Steph said on July 11th, 2008 at 10:19 pm

Yum. I do love marshmallow rice krispies. I should give those a try! Of course my favorite ones are those chocolate rice krispies, but I’m always open to trying new things! Thanks Deborah!

[Reply]
JennDZ - The Leftover Queen said on July 11th, 2008 at 10:25 pm

Now THAT is so cool, Deborah! Whole Grain and Marshmallow Crispy Bars – together in perfect harmony! And they say world peace is not possible!

[Reply]
glamah16 said on July 12th, 2008 at 2:08 am

I love the use of Kasha cereal in this. Gives it a whole other dimension.

[Reply]
Grace said on July 12th, 2008 at 7:55 am

rice krispie treats are a go-to snack for me. is that bad? surely not. after all, there are vitamins sprayed onto the rice krispies.
i absolutely love kashi, so i know that i’d be a fan of this version of them. it’s a good bit healthier too. very nice!

[Reply]
Zen Chef said on July 12th, 2008 at 1:20 pm

Yum! Looks like something i could have like.. right now!!!
Can you Fedex me some pleaaase??

[Reply]
Vicarious Foodie said on July 12th, 2008 at 1:25 pm

What a great idea! And I just got a box of GoLean Crunch for the first time yesterday. I’ve been dying to try it.

[Reply]
Lore said on July 12th, 2008 at 5:05 pm

Easy, crunchy and delicious! Yummy

[Reply]
Madam Chow said on July 12th, 2008 at 5:48 pm

You are a cooking MACHINE! My husband likes rice krispie treats, but if your husband loved them, I suspect mine will, too!

[Reply]
Kevin said on July 13th, 2008 at 12:19 am

Those look really good! Nice presentation!

[Reply]
Peabody said on July 13th, 2008 at 2:42 am

I like mine made with Peanut Butter Captian Crunch…good stuff.

[Reply]
Ann said on July 13th, 2008 at 2:23 pm

Ooh… what a nice (and healthier) variation!

[Reply]
bakingblonde said on July 13th, 2008 at 3:57 pm

Wow, how great!

You’ve been tagged, check my blog!

[Reply]
Rachelle said on July 13th, 2008 at 5:25 pm

These sound great! I will have to try these.

I made some out of fruity pebbles for my daughter’s Bday to take to class. Those were a big hit with the kids.

[Reply]
Julie said on July 13th, 2008 at 6:18 pm

We just finished working our way through a big Costco-sized box of that, and it was really starting to make me weary by the end. This would have been a great use for it… I’ll have to remember that next time hubby brings home a huge box.

[Reply]
Heather said on July 13th, 2008 at 9:16 pm

a healthy marshmallow bar?!?!?! impossible!

If you’ve got some free time, please check out my first blog event.. I’d love to see what you come up with!

http://diaryofafanaticfoodie.blogspot
.com/2008/07/cocktail-and-my-first
-event.html

[Reply]
Sophie said on July 14th, 2008 at 12:49 am

Wow, you’re right, it is quite a simple recipe…I’m glad, though…perfect for those days when I’m craving something sweet but don’t feel like baking …and the whole grain part definitely makes it a keeper .

[Reply]
KJ said on July 14th, 2008 at 2:33 am

I would never have thought to do this. And it’s so simple. Fantastic!

[Reply]
Kristen said on July 14th, 2008 at 3:28 am

I LOVE this photo and this recipe. Mmmmmm!

[Reply]
Emiline said on July 14th, 2008 at 4:55 am

What a good idea! They look great. I love the pink background.

[Reply]
Mama Goose said on July 14th, 2008 at 7:12 pm

Yep. Yum. Thanks!!

[Reply]
Helene said on July 14th, 2008 at 11:38 pm

I like the picture. This looks really good.

[Reply]
Elle said on July 15th, 2008 at 3:04 am

Oooo this looks so much better than the usual marshmallow treats with Rice Krispies. Bet they have more flavor and crunch.

[Reply]
Patricia Scarpin said on July 15th, 2008 at 2:26 pm

I used to print the recipes, too, and that made me feel really bad, Deb!
I’m glad I can use del.icio.us now.
These bars look super yummy!

[Reply]
Elle said on July 16th, 2008 at 3:59 am

We love that cereal! I really have to try these. Thanks!

[Reply]
Suzana said on July 16th, 2008 at 12:02 pm

Loved the photo and the recipe! I’m a whole grain girl – I’ll have to try these bars. Sounds yummy!

[Reply]
kellypea said on July 26th, 2008 at 11:31 pm

Jeez these look good — and easy too! And lucky you for actually having the pages you describe in binders. Mine are still in a pile (that I sift through when I can’t find something…) and the two binders are sitting somewhere else. One of these days…

[Reply]