Nutella Rice Krispie Treats

I'm usually kind of close to the cutting edge... not right on it, but not too far behind either.  I was actually one of the first kids in my class to have a calculator, but being slightly smaller than an adding machine and still having to be plugged into the wall, the new gadget didn't make its way into my backpack - but we did have one!  

I was also right there with the "car phone".  Yep... that was me, blonde, permed hair blowing under the open sunroof in my Honda Prelude, curly cord plugged into the charger, chatting on my shoe-sized flip phone just like Farrah Fawcet in Charlie's Angels.  Ahhh... those were the days!!  And we were also right there with the mid-90's HP Pavillion Desktop super computer with all 800 MB of hard drive (now I take that much in pictures in a week!) closely followed by one of those early digital cameras.

While we may have been technologically there (with the exception of Twitter!), we missed the Nutella wave.  Letizia Golosa is really the person responsible for bringing us into the Nutella world with her Homemade Nutella Post.  Her stunning shots of the creamy, chocolaty spread literally had me craving some for myself.  While I haven't ventured into the homemade world yet, we did take advantage of one of those Costco super coupons for a two pack.  Cutting the plastic off of the containers and opening the jar for the first time we really weren't sure how we would like it, but... Wow!!  Creamy, nutty, and full of chocolate, really, what's not to like?

Since our first time we have returned to purchase jar after jar.  The plethora of Nutella recipes of late has me eager to try Letizia's homemade version, and I have found that the spread on our Chocolate Banana Crepes is no less than extraordinary.

A few days ago, my son's request to make his favorite Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats had me reaching for the jar of peanut butter only to be met with a shriek of, "NO!  You can not use crunchy peanut butter!"  (though I really do think that would have been good!).  After I explained that we were out of the creamy kind he replaced the crunchy jar into the pantry and returned with a fresh jar of Nutella.  Why not?  

We got to mixing, melting a cup of the Nutella into the marshmallow mixture and then creating a decadent topping of the chocolaty hazelnut spread combined with melted chocolate.  Eagerly anticipating our first tastes, I watched the smiles all around and a plate emptying fairly quickly.  I'd say we have a hit!

Nutella Rice Krispie Treats

Treats:

6 cups Rice Krispies (or 3 cups Rice Krispies and 3 cups Chocolate Puffed Rice)
1 bag (10.5-oz) miniature marshmallows
¼ cup (2 ounces) unsalted butter

generous 1 cup Nutella
 

Topping:

1 cup Nutella

1 1/2 cups chopped chocolate

1 Tbs trans-fat free shortening

Measure the cereal into a large mixing bowl and set aside. Melt the marshmallows and butter together in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  Add the Nutella and stir until combined.  Pour the melted marshmallow mixture over the cereal stirring well to evenly coat the cereal. Pour into the prepared pan and use a small buttered piece of waxed paper or the back of a spoon sprayed with cooking spray to press evenly into pan.

In a small sauce pan melt the remaining 1 cup of Nutella, shortening and chopped chocolate over medium/medium low heat.  When the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth, pour over the cereal mixture.  Gently spread the chocolate topping evenly across the top of the krispies.

Allow the chocolate to set, then cut into squares and serve.

Cutting Edge!!!