Conversation Hearts Rice Krispy Treats

Holidays, they are all about traditions aren't they? I mean Halloween, there's carving pumpkins (public display of my lack of artist skills), toasting the pumpkin seeds (which no one eats), taking the costume picture (there's Suzy, a witch for the 5th year in a row...).


Then there's Thanksgiving. Even if no one's touched the stuff in years, grandma is going to be bringing her green bean casserole and Aunt Betty will be bringing her candied yams. Because it's tradition. Period.

And Christmas. I could write a novel on Christmas traditions people have. Everywhere from off-tune neighborhood caroling, to family renditions of the Nativity, you name it it's someone's tradition.

Which brings me to Valentines Day. And Conversation Hearts.

These little beauties. It's a well known fact that nobody like conversation hearts. Yet that fake, sugary flavor is something we have to have during Vday. I distinctly remember individually picking out the hearts (can't be giving "I Luv U's" to the boys I don't like) and stuffing them into envelopes to hand out to classmates. (Oh the class valentines... those were the bane of my existence. My stress levels were through the roof. "Wait I can't give this one to Johnny, he'll think I like him! And there's not enough of the pink ones to give my friends! MOM! We need another box!!!... I can't wait for my children to reach that stage...)

Anyhoo, since these things are so near and dear to my heart, I had to make a rice krispy treat with them. By first really crushing the heart candies (use your choice of weapon: a meat tenderizer, a bat, your child's toy that won't stop chanting "Come and Play" despite the fact that you've removed all batteries and taken the whole thing apart piece by piece... ahem.) you get this powdery substance that's perfect for melting into the marshmallows. There's something about the melted mallows that mellow out the conversation heart flavor just perfectly. And let's be honest, these things would make pretty cute party treats. So go grab that pack of hearts that I know you've already bought and whip up a batch of these treats! Yum-o!

Conversation Hearts Rice Krispy Treats

4 Tbsp butter
6 cups marshmallows 
3/4 cup pulverized conversation hearts (remember, each color has it's own distinct flavor. I really hate the purple and green hearts so I chose to just crush up the white/yellow/orange colors... but I'm picky like that)

1 tsp vanilla extract
6 cups rice krispies
a few extra hearts just for garnish


Pour the rice krispies in a large mixing bowl and set aside. Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Once it's melted add in the marshmallows. Stir until the marshmallows are mostly all melted (this will take a few minutes--low and slow is key for perfect texture) then stir in the vanilla and crushed conversation hearts.

Once fully melted, take them off heat and pour over the rice krispy mixture. Stir lightly to combine, then dump into a greased 9x9 pan. Allow to cool 5 minutes, then press into pan with greased hands. Allow to fully cool another 20 min or so and enjoy! 

(Important Tip: You can garnish them with whole Conversation Hearts but only sprinkle them on top so they can be pulled off and eaten separately. I thought it would be fun to mix them in with my treats initially... and almost broke a tooth biting into my first one. Don't worry guys, I got your back. That's what I'm here for.)