Crispy Rice "Cupcakes"

My oven isn't working quite right..the bottom heating element is broken, which means NOTHING cooks evenly. And with three birthdays comming up--it presented a problem.  I could have gone to the store and bought pre-made cupcakes, but I don't like it when my kids come home faces & clothes died bright blue, green, or pink :)

So here is our solution...Crispy Rice Cereal "Cupcakes"...I have to say they were a HUGE hit.  All the kids opened their's up, expecting the standard cupcake and exclaimed "Yeah! There are rice crispy treats in here!"  They loved them :)

Here is what you need:

(standard rice crispy treat ingredients)

1 pkg. mini marshmallows

4 TB butter

1 tsp. vanilla

6 cups crispy rice cereal

chocolate candy coating (or use colored candy melts)

sprinkles

paper cupcake liners

1. Make your rice crispy treats--follow package directions or...In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium-medium low heat, add marshmallows stiring constantly until completely melted (you can remove mixture from heat if marshmallows start to brown).

Add vanilla and cereal, mixing well until everything is evenly coated with marshmallows.

2. Spray a standard size muffin tin, 1/2 cup measuring scoop & your hands with nonstick spray.  Measure out 1/2 cup of the cereal mixture for each muffin.  Mound the top & press treats in firmly so each resembles a cupcake.

3. Unmold your "cupcakes" and allow to cool & dry.  1 recipe made about 15 cupcakes. Meanwhile, melt candy coating per package directions, or over a double boiler (my prefered method).

 4. When you can easily handle the cupcakes..dip just the tops into the melted candy coating.  Sprinkle with sprinkles while still wet.

5. When dried, drop into paper liners & enjoy!

 

Looking for more portible birthday treats? You might like these.

Make Your Own Cake Topper

I'm sure you've seen these around (maybe even in my shop)...adorable cake toppers that add a fun and unique look to any birthday cake (or any other cake honestly)...and they are easy to make, here's how:

1. Cut two strips of paper 2 x 12 inches each.  Score at 1 inch and fold, using a bone folder to get a good edge.  Now you should have 2 strips of paper 1 x 12 inches each.

 

2. Make a triangle template out of scrap paper...mine  has sides of 1 1/8 inches and is 1 inch long from tip to center top.  You can make the triangle any size you like, as long as it is not larger than your strip of paper.

 3. Line the top of your triangle template along the fold of your strip of paper and start cutting out triangles.  You will have extra, non-folded triangles left over...save them for another project.

4. Stick two, 10 inch bamboo skewers (found in the kitchen utensil department of most stores) 8 inches apart into a piece of thick Styrofoam.  Tie strings across, making sure they are tight (but not too tight).  Wrapping the strings around the ends a few times  helps the strings stay secure (you will glue the strings in place in the final step).

5. Now to add our triangles...I like to use a glue dot roller, you can use whatever adhesive you have on hand though.  Add a little glue to the inside of your triangle flag, making sure to get some over the crease-this will keep it in place.  Fold the flag over the string and press into place.  Repeat with remaining triangles, spacing them as evenly as possible.

 6. Move your skewers so they are a little closer together and the strings drape a little.  Adjust the strings so that they are evenly spaced & you like how it looks.  Glue the knotted ends of the strings to the skewers with a little dab of super glue or other clear glue.  Let dry & remove skewers from Styrofoam.  Before decorating your cake, wash & dry the ends of the skewers that were in the Styrofoam.

Now that you have the basic idea...here's a few more ideas.  And if your not feeling crafty, you can find all these in the Cake Topper or Birthdays section of my shop (either alone or added to my new birthday party kits) & I'll do all the work for you :)

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Birthday Week

This is a big week for our family...we have 3 birthdays in the next 7 days...mine is today (read on for a special birthday coupon code to use at Anticipation), C turns 11 tomorrow and H turns 9 next Wednesday.  We are busy, to say the least.  This year we don't have any big parties to throw...we only throw big parties (i.e. parties with a lot of guests & extra planning...we still celebrate birthdays together as a family) on certain birthday years, years that come with important milestones in our family: 1,5,8,12,16&18...to us it makes these birthday years all the more special.  Last year we had two parties, you may remember, here's a look back...

O had a super fun "Super Hero" party

more tutorial here & here

and H had a fantastic "Recycled Art" birthday party

more tutorials here & here

For more birthday ideas click on my parties & tutorial tabs :)

Watch for some more "birthday" themed tutorials

coming up this week &

For a 15% discount at Anticipation enter this coupon code at check out happy32birthday

between now and 10:00 am (est) May 12, 2011