Marshmallow Treat Bars for Grown Ups and Others

Here's a healthier version of the crispy cereal and marshmallow treats that are popular with children and adults alike. I made it (marginally) healthier by using high fiber Kashi cereal and some nuts and dried fruit.  I made them festive with drizzle of chocolate. Easy enough to make with the kids during their winter break, festive enough for the holiday table and tasty all  year round, these cereal bar cookies are delicious. (Or to quote a certain tiger about a certain other cereal --- "They're Grrrrrreat.")

Marshmallow Treat Bars for Grown Ups and Others

Makes about 24-36 bars (depending on how large you cut them)

These are not your mother's Rice Krispies bars. You could replace the Kashi cereal here with granola (see Gary's recipe here) or other ready-to-eat cereal.

1/4 cup butter,plus extra for greasing pan.
4 cups of regular or mini marshmallows (about 7-8 oz).
4 cups Kashi GOLEAN Crunch cereal
1/2 cup pecans, roughly chopped
1 cup total raisins and or dried cranberries
1 tsp. cinnamon
6 oz. bittersweet chocolate

Grease a 9"x12" or 9"x13" pan. Melt 1/4 cup butter over low heat in a large saucepan.  Add marshmallows and stir until completely combined and smooth.  Remove from heat and stir in cereal, pecans, dried fruit and cinnamon until well combined.  Turn out into greased pan.  Cool until firm and not tacky to the touch.  Cut into bars.  Melt chocolate over double boiler or in microwave.  Either drizzle chocolate across top of bars or spoon into large plastic storage bag with "zipper" style closure.  Squeeze air out of bag and seal. Snip off corner of bag and pipe chocolate over top of bars.

Here are other dessert recipes from Kashi using its cereal products.
Interested in other alternatives to the classic rice krispies treat? Check out Smitten Kitten's excellent peanut butter and choclate version  or salted brown butter variation.