Allergy friendly. cupcake happy!

Since I have been a volunteer with the hospitality crew at my church, I’ve made sure to offer allergen-free treats for our celebrations. Last week, we had a spring event, and I decided to make one of my favorite comfort foods: Marshmallow Crispy Treats. They are simple, tasty and easily made allergen-free.

When you have multiple food allergies, even marshmallow treats are questionable. Were they made with butter or non-dairy margarine? Were they made with marshmallow fluff (which contains egg) or regular marshmallows? Do they contain peanut butter? Is the cereal gluten-free? For these reasons, the treats I made were put on a separate table, clearly marked with allergy information. I can happily say there were a hit! Enjoy!

Springtime Marshmallow Crispy Treats (Dairy-Free, Egg-Free)
Adapted from various recipes found online, on cereal boxes and marshmallow packages!

1/4 cup non-dairy margarine (Recommended: Earth Balance Soy-Free Natural Buttery Spread)
6 cups miniature marshmallows
1 tsp. vanilla extract
7 cups crispy rice cereal (use gluten-free cereal if necessary)
2 Tablespoons dairy-free chocolate chips
Allergen-safe sprinkles (I often find allergen-free sprinkles in the dollar section at Target marked “manufactured in the nut-free facility.”)

Procedure:

1. Spray a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan with allergen-free baking spray and set aside.
2. In large saucepan melt margarine over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla extract until well incorporated.
3. Add crispy rice cereal. Stir until well coated.
4. Using clean hands moistened with water, evenly press mixture into prepared pan. Allow to cool.
5. After the treats have cooled, place chocolate chips in a microwave-safe zipper freezer bag (Ziploc brand is microwaveable). Heat in microwave in 30-second increments until melted, squeezing the chips/bag to check consistency.
6. Snip corner of the bag to pipe/drizzle melted chocolate over treats.
7. Quickly scatter sprinkles over the chocolate. Sprinkles will adhere to chocolate upon hardening.
8. Once chocolate is hardened, cut treats into squares.

Notes: Best if served the same day. For best results, use fresh marshmallows. Store no more than two days at room temperature in airtight container.