Puffed-Rice Pumpkins

Name: Puffed-Rice Pumpkins
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 10-12 pumpkins
Ingredients: 3 tbsp butter; 5 cups mini marshmallows; 1/4 tsp orange gel food colouring; 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice, optional; 6 cups puffed rice cereal; green licorice, cut into 1-in. long strips

Prep Time25 mins
Total Time35 mins
Makes10-12 pumpkins

Nothing says fall like pumpkins! And these fun pumpkin-shaped treats are perfect for making with the kids.

Ingredients

3 tbsp butter
5 cups mini marshmallows
1/4 tsp orange gel food colouring
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice, optional
6 cups puffed rice cereal
green licorice, cut into 1-in. long strips

Instructions

Spray 2 12-cup mini Bundt pans with oil. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Heat a large non-stick pot over medium-low. Add butter, marshmallows, food colouring and pumpkin pie spice. Stir until marshmallows are melted, 3 to 5 min. Remove from heat and stir in cereal until it’s completely coated.
When mixture is warm (not hot), spray your hands lightly with oil, then working quickly, press 1⁄4 cup of mixture into Bundt wells. Let stand for 2 to 3 min. Remove from pan and gently press the flat sides of 2 halves together to form a pumpkin. Add licorice stems.

Don’t have mini Bundt pans? Hand-form pumpkins with 1/2 cup of marshmallow-cereal mixture.

Originally published in the Today's Parent October 2014 issue.