Mom these are delicious!!! - so of course I must share!!

So recently on a shopping trip with the boys I wandered from my list in my thoughts and I found myself thinking about rice crispy treats....  After picking up a pack of marshmallows I felt a familiar feeling rise up in me.... surely I can make these myself!  So... having only purchased brown rice crisps from the store once we got home I started some research.  I was delighted to find a recipe from Martha Stewart.  Now to back up a tad... I personally don't like marshmallows aside from the occasional campfire I personally don't think they taste all that good... BUT these I must say are yummy and were actually quite simple to make.  I did make a change as I am not a fan of corn syrup so I substituted brown rice syrup and I am quite happy with the results.  OK here is the recipe!

Ingredients:


2 1/2 tablespoons unflavoured gelatin
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup brown rice syrup
2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract (skip the artificial one I promise you won't regret it!)
1 cup cold water divided
Icing sugar for dusting

Directions:
1.  Combine gelatin and 1/2 cup water in the bowl of an electric mixer with wisk attachment. (I don't own one my hand held mixer worked just fine).  Let stand for 30 min.

2.  Combine granulated sugar, brown rice syrup, salt and 1/2 cup water in a small heavy saucepan; place over low heat, and stir until sugar has dissolved.  Wash down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to dissolve sugar crystals.

3.  Use candy thermometer; raise heat to high.  Cook without stirring until it reaches 244 degrees.  Immediately remove pan from heat. 

4.  With mixer on low speed, slowly pour syrup into the softened gelatin.  Increase the speed to high; beat until the mixture is very thick and white and has almost tripled in volume.  (about 15 min) Add vanilla; beat to incorporate. 

5.  Dust a 8x12 inch glass baking pan with icing sugar.  Pour marshmallow mixture into the dish.  Dust the top with icing sugar; I slightly giggled the pan until the top was smooth... you can also wet your hands and pat it smooth and dust it again with icing sugar.  Let it stand over night uncovered to dry out.  Turn out onto a board and cut marshmallows... however you wish... I cut them in to small cubes, large squares and even used a heart cookie cutter - the options are endless :)  The sides will be sticky so lightly dust with more icing sugar and you're done!

Now if you want to make the crispy treats...  simply skip step five and add a rice crisp cereal and then pat into large square pan.  I dusted the top with icing sugar to keep it from sticking to my hands.  These little treats are super delicious and my boys kept coming back asking for more!