I love LCMs, embarrassing as it is to say. I particularly liked the Shrek ones with the green chocolate bits on top. There, I've said it. Now that I've confessed my liking for these sticky, chewy treats I can go onto getting on with my life unburdened of my secret. When I happened upon these in Nigella Express, I felt the need to make them, mainly because the Shrek ones had sold out at my Coles.
I didn't use Rice Crispies but instead an Organic version of Coco Pops. Of course I don't have those charming little green chocolate bits on top so some Charbonnel & Walker Hot Chocolate flakes had to do, a much welcomed present from my sister in London every year. The strawberry marshmallows somewhat obscured the chocolate taste, or at least interfered with it, so I had to add some chocolate flakes to the mix as well as on top. And I am not sure what voodoo Nigella is working but my CSI latex gloves were well and truly stickied out and didn't help a jot when I tried to smooth these over.
Marshmallow Crispy Squares from Nigella Express
You'd think this was designed to keep the children happy, and while that's OK with me, it is the adults who seem to find this particularly irresistible. But if you can't appeal to the child within at this time of year, when can you?
If I can find a tub of edible disco glitter in one of my cupboards, I sprinkle some on while the marshmallow is still sticky, but it has a certain pearly, luminescent appeal as it is.
It's also beautiful cut in squares, then each piece pierced with a white birthday cake candle, and arranged on a stand. Alternatively, you could turn this into more of a pickable pud, but cutting the slab into teeny-tiny squares so that people can pop one straight into their mouth.
- 45g butter
- 300g mini marshmallows (I use normal sized ones and it was fine)
- 180g Rice Krispies
- Edible glitter or sprinkles (optional) I used chocolate flakes
Step 1 - Melt the butter in a large, heavy-based saucepan over a low heat.
Step 2 - Add the marshmallows and cook gently until they are completely melted and blended, stirring constantly.
Marshmallows starting to melt down
Half melted marshmallowy goo
Completely melted
Step 3 - Take the pan off the heat and immediately add the cereal, mixing lightly until well coated.
Step 4 - Press the mixture into a greased 32cm x 23cm tin; you may have to put on vinyl CSI gloves and press it down into the corners, as it will be very sticky. Flatten the top and then scatter over the edible glitter or sprinkles, if so inclined. I have to say that this is easier said than done, the gloves ended up with a gooey mess all over them so I wasn't really able to flatten it as much as I would have liked.
Step 5 - Let the marshmallow crispy squares cool completely in the tin and then cut them into 24 squares.
Makes 24 squares
Recipe by Nigella Lawson from Nigella Express
