Valentine crispy messages

Some of you may wonder why crispy treats. Why not sugar cookies? The simple answer is, I have a child that suffers from severe food allergies and crispy treats are an easy sweet to modify. So here goes. For this fun treat you’ll need:

ingredients:

• 6 cups rice crispy cereal
• 1 bag large marshmallows
• 3 tsp butter (or vegan Smart Balance)
• 1 can cream cheese icing
• red food coloring

tools:

• heart shaped cookie cutter (inch deep)
• parchment paper
• cooking spray
• large spoon
• resealable bags
• icing connectors (NOTE: These are available at craft stores and are roughly 4 for $2)
• #4 and #2 icing tips
• toothpicks

And here are the steps:

crispy treats:

1. Melt butter and marshmallows over low heat.
2. Lay out a piece of parchment paper and spray your heart cookie cutter with cooking spray so that your crispy cereal will release easily.
3. Add your rice crispies to your marshmallows and butter and stir well. (Tip: Add the cereal a little at a time to ensure you don’t make them too dry.)
4. Spray a large spoon with cooking spray and then scoop up the crispy cereal and mold it into your cookie cutter. Pack down the cereal mixture and set the newly formed heart to the side. Repeat until you’re out of mixture and allow them to cool for at least 15 minutes before icing.

 icing:

1. Spoon out about a half of the icing into two bowls and tint it pink red (gel food coloring works best).
2. Clip the corner of a resealable bag, insert the bottom of a connector, and add 3 large spoons of icing into the bag. Place the #4 tip on the outside, secure the top of the connector and pipe an outline on the heart.
3. Microwave the remaining red icing in the bowl for 10 to 15 seconds until dripping but not soupy.
4. Slowly spoon or pour red icing into the heart area and smooth it in with a toothpick. Doing this quickly will produce a smooth surface once the icing dries.
5. Allow the icing to set for at least five minutes.
6. Taking a second resealable bag, clip a corner, insert the bottom of a connector, spoon in the pink icing, attach the #2 tip and the top of the connector, and pipe your lettering.
7. Set your crispies aside and allow them to harden for several hours before packaging.