Book Update: No books. I did watch “Saving Mr. Banks”. Such a great movie! Emma Thompson was sooo good. Tonight, I saw “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” because my friend John was in the musical. Here’s my new lunchbox though! I can’t wait. I wish I was teaching school just to put it on my desk.
Recipe: So the title should really be “Happiness Covered in Chocolate”. These bars really are simple to make. The only requirements are the ingredients, a microwave and large glass bowl. Oh, and some kind of spatula. The patties can be made as large or as small as you want. The original star crunch bars are pretty large – about 3″ wide and 1″ thick. I made these 3/4″ thick and about 1-2″ wide so that I could share them with more people. Next time, I will just put the rice krispy mixture into a greased 9×13 and slather it with the chocolate instead of shaping them into patties. That might be easier at a pot luck… although maybe not as fun to eat.
Ingredients
- 11 oz. bag of caramels or caramel bits
- 4 Tb. (1/4 cup) butter
- 5 oz. (2 cups or half the bag) mini marshmallows
- 4 cups crisp rice cereal (like Rice Krispies)
- cooking spray
- 12 oz. (2 cups) milk chocolate chips
- 1 Tb. vegetable oil or 2 Tb. vegetable shortening
Instructions
- Have everything ready to go because this recipe gets a little sticky.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- In a great big glass bowl, pour in the caramel bits or unwrap the caramels.
- Cook in the microwave on full power for 1 minute and 30 seconds. Stop every 30 seconds to stir. Depending on the wattage of the microwave, this may require more or less time for the caramels to start getting very soft. They don't need to be completely melted yet.
- Add the butter to the caramels. Heat in microwave 1 minute. Stir. The mixture will start to come together, but some of the butter will not mix and that's okay.
- Add marshmallows. Heat for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Stir when the marshmallows are puffy and mix into the caramel mixture.
- Once all mixed together, add cereal. Fold into the caramel mixture.
- Spray hands with cooking spray.
- Form the mixture into patties and place onto the parchment or silicone mat. The mixture towards the bottom may be too hot to handle and need to cool for a short while.
- Cover the patties with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 2 hours or overnight.
- Take a glass bowl and fill with the milk chocolate chips and vegetable oil or shortening. Melt in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Dip the crunch bars into the chocolate and remove. Using 2 forks or a slotted spoon works well. Then, put on a wire rack or back onto the parchment or silicone.
- Once all done, put in the fridge for 2 hours or overnight to firm up the chocolate. Remove from fridge about 2 hours before serving and enjoy! Keep out on the counter covered for a few days or in the fridge for a week.
Recipe from Averie Cooks
Homemade Star Crunch
11 oz. bag of caramels or caramel bits
4 Tb. (1/4 cup) butter
5 oz. (2 cups or half the bag) mini marshmallows
4 cups crisp rice cereal (like Rice Krispies)
cooking spray
12 oz. (2 cups) milk chocolate chips
1 Tb. vegetable oil or 2 Tb. vegetable shortening
Have everything ready to go because this recipe gets a little sticky.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
In a great big glass bowl, pour in the caramel bits or unwrap the caramels.
Cook in the microwave on full power for 1 minute and 30 seconds. Stop every 30 seconds to stir. Depending on the wattage of the microwave, this may require more or less time for the caramels to start getting very soft. They don’t need to be completely melted yet.
Add the butter to the caramels. Heat in microwave 1 minute. Stir. The mixture will start to come together, but some of the butter will not mix and that’s okay.
Add marshmallows. Heat for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Stir when the marshmallows are puffy and mix into the caramel mixture.
Once all mixed together, add cereal. Fold into the caramel mixture.
Spray hands with cooking spray.
Form the mixture into patties and place onto the parchment or silicone mat. The mixture towards the bottom may be too hot to handle and need to cool for a short while.
Cover the patties with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 2 hours or overnight.
Take a glass bowl and fill with the milk chocolate chips and vegetable oil or shortening. Melt in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Dip the crunch bars into the chocolate and remove. Using 2 forks or a slotted spoon works well. Then, put on a wire rack or back onto the parchment or silicone.
Once all done, put in the fridge for 2 hours or overnight to firm up the chocolate. Remove from fridge about 2 hours before serving and enjoy! Keep out on the counter covered for a few days or in the fridge for a week.
