Rice Krispie Treats with Chocolate, Toasted Walnuts and Salted Caramel
I get teased constantly about being on Twitter by my friends and family who are not. They see it as a mindless waste of time and though it sure can be, I can attest to the real value of this particular social media tool. I’ve met and made real friends, developed client relationships and participated in a ton of events, from wine tastings to making my own charcuterie. This past summer, I started tweeting with a woman who lives across the river from St. Louis, MO; my hometown. I actually grew up in the suburbs of St. Louis and never ventured downtown much except to go to the zoo or Forest Park but I’ve loved seeing some areas of town revisited and hearing about all of the places Cindy (@mcharcuterie) frequents during her seemingly nonstop adventures to find something good to eat or drink.
One day last July, Cindy was venturing to a place I think she might need to buy stock in. Bobby’s Frozen Custard is well known for some of the best frozen custard in town (yes, St. Louis folks know that too!). She had mentioned how much she loved these Rice Krispie Treats often enough and one day, in the MIDDLE of summer, she asked if she could send me one. I laughed because it was so blasted hot, but gave her my address and thought maybe in the fall it would be fun to try one. Lo and behold a box arrived the next day, overnight from the St. Louis area with a cold pack to keep this delicious treat from melting into a puddle. Winner!! And it was everything my hometown friend had promised. Chewy rice crispy treats covered with a layer of caramel and then covered with pecans. She was hoping I would recreate this treasure and I was on it!
So why am I posting now? Well, first they were a pain; covering the Rice Krispie treats that I molded around a stick with caramel was no easy task in a home kitchen. Maybe that’s because I went a bit overboard with the size? It was a big treat but mine were bigger. I mean like HUGE. I didn’t figure out how much girth that caramel and nuts would add and once completed…they weighed almost a pound. Yes…I said a POUND! So, to eat them, (really the word devour could be used) the novelty of the stick was soon lost in cutting them into pieces to share. I still thought I would share but time got away from me and they were relegated to the back of my mind, never totally lost but sort of forgotten, I won’t deny.
As luck would have it, I made a trip to Jerry’s Nut House when I participated in a local Swap Meet (I took my Wood Butter and came home with fresh veggies, cookies, bitters and some homemade tea!). If you think the candy rack at the local grocery store is enticing (or your kids do) then this is a sight to behold. Walls and walls of every treat imaginable. Jerry found out I had a blog and offered me some goodies to try and I thought best if my choices were conducive to what would appeal to my readers…many who are bakers and cookie makers. So we devised a plan and last week I received a fabulous box of goodies.
When my counter ended up with Melting Wafers and Walnut Pieces sitting on the counter next to a box of Rice Krispies a plan was borne. While those ingredients reminded me of those wonderful St. Louis treats, I knew that to be happier with results I had to revisit and revise from my initial effort and these Rice Krispie Treats with Chocolate, Toasted Walnuts and Salted Caramel did not disappoint.
Although my first re-creation attempt only included a drizzle of chocolate, I decided to make it a significant layer. How wrong could that be, right? Pecans? Walnuts? Almonds? I think any nut you love would work just fine. I kicked up the Rice Krispies just a notch by browning the butter (makes even just the plain ones something more special) and though I contemplated making my own caramel there are just times when a girl has to do what a girl has to do…and my over-extended workload and resulting lack of time saw me use Kraft caramels with a whisper of salt and they were perfect. Sometimes easier is good. Since Cindy is from Belleville, IL I christened these as Belleville Bars and some candy company needs to get with me stat or I’m starting my own company. They. Are. DIVINE!!
Seriously good. Yummy. Delicious. Amen. Perfect for a Halloween party. A football game. Holiday gifts. You!
Rice Krispie Treats with Chocolate, Toasted Walnuts and Caramel – The Belleville Bar
Ingredients
- 1 - 13 " X 9" pan of warm Rick Krispie Treats I used the recipe at http://www.ricekrispies.com/en_US/recipes/the-original-treats.html and just browned the butter before proceeding with the next steps.
- 12 oz of chocolate melting discs or chips
- 1 cup of chopped pecans or walnuts toasted
- 1 pkg of Kraft caramels
- 2-4 Tbsp of half and half
- Sea Salt to taste
Instructions
- Using a double boiler or microwave on low setting, melt the chocolate. Pour it evenly over the warm Krispie Treats
- Spread the chocolate to the edges of the pan and immediately scatter the nuts over the chocolate;gently press them into the warm chocolate.
- Heat the caramels and half and half in a saucepan on low heat until the caramels melt and combine with the half and half. (I used my immersion blender to speed up the process but a whisk will do the trick, just be more patient than me!).
- Add a few pinches of sea salt to taste and mix well.
- Drizzle the caramel evenly over the top of the treat.
- Cool. Cut into rectangular bars or squares.
Notes
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I can’t wait to try these! They are different and I love different things! Also besides me almost all of my grandkids love anything carmal!
They are SO good; don’t tell but I know I hid some so my family wouldn’t gobble them all down at once and well, so I could indulge more than I would with normal Krispie Treats!
As I have written before, I too am from st Louis, I also have spent a lot of time in Belleville, your recipes and posts are the best! I will try these bars, but I know nothing of Bobby’s frozen custard., only Ted drews, where is Bobby’s? Jerry’s nut house?? I also see the chocolate house is making mavrakos recipe candy..sounds good. Are you old enough to remember marvrokas or merbs candy?
Bobby’s is on the Illinois side…my friend actually lives in Belleville (hence the name) so I’m not familiar with it either but she has gone on and on about how wonderful they are so I believe her!
Oh my I do remember Mavrakos…I love that honeycomb candy covered with chocolate. Jerry’s is here locally in Denver but you can order online; they’re stuff is fabulous too; love it for baking.
bigger size the better :D. it have great tastes. I wonder how much calorie I got if too much eat them.
These are brilliant! I am positively salivating over these bars, Barb. The Belleville Bar is bound to become a favorite in our house.
They were SO good Dara, like scary good? I found people to give them too…I know my sweet tooth would have been happy with eating every single one of them!
Thanks Dara…they really are so good and I’m glad I went with purchased caramels. I had some hesitation but I’ve heard from several friends they are grateful to not always have to make everything homemade. Sure makes this an easy treat to put together, not like the original thing on a stick. No one would have made those; I would have probably lamented a bit too much about what a pain they were! 🙂
I would make my stomach happy. Oh wait, I’d make these treats.
Absolutely yum!!
wow, i have a whole lot of love for this recipe! it’s got everything good in it. yum!
xo
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Beautifully done!
I would probably rip open the coconut and walnuts first to make some banana bread. And then I’d probably eat the chocolate right out of the bag as the bread baked.
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I opened my email this morning, and saw your post… AND was completely hungry! I have been meaning to make homemade granola. This giveaway has a lot of lovely treats Perfect for homemade granola! Hugs, Terra
Oh yeah…and I need some granola in my house too and I do love it with coconut, cranberries and walnuts! (Now how do I incorporate that chocolate, hmm?)
Win or lose, I can’t wait to make these! Awesome!
That’s the spirit Laura…they are so worth it!
Oh my gosh, my mouth is watering. I’m going to have to make some of these soon. My family would love them.
Not entering Barb. Just had to say how amazing these look. What a fun treat. Snap, Crackle and Pop must be doing cartwheels for sure.
Hehe…you made me COL. That’s chuckle out loud. They had better not steal my recipe!! It will be a lashing of 20 wet noodles for sure. 🙂
Wow! These bars are just over the top! This WILL happen in my kitchen. ASAP! I love the idea of dark chocolate and coconut on them too. Wow!
I was thinking I would have to add the almonds too right and those would be Almond Joy Bars! I know they aren’t sophisticated but I love that. Pretty quick to make and decidedly decadent…is that bad or good? 🙂
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I am definitely making these — I worked in Belleville for a while. Love it – Fairview Heights – mall – we went there all the time! I would make some type of fudge!
I also follow you on Twitter already – in both of my accounts 😉
I already subscribe via RSS to your feed 🙂
This looks like such an amazing treat! I’d sure love to win the giveaway. They’d be great for a cookie recipe for The Great Food Blogger cookie swap! 🙂
With the holidays approaching, I have been wanting to make those spicy nut snack blends to give as gifts. I love nuts on anything! These bars look incredible too.
I love chatting and sharing ideas with the friends I meet on twitter. Leave it to my friend Barb to make one of my favorite treats even better!!! Love your version of Bobby’s Krispy Treats and can’t wait to make them myself. (Warning: Bobby’s Krispy Treat sales may decrease when I start making my own…. with chocolate!)
I literally could not have done it without you…and I’m glad for the delay and the new interpretation…so much easier to make. That’s important!
Would love to make these bars for starters, but with the Holidays fast approaching, any help with baking/candy making supplies is wonderful!
No, these do not fall into line with my meal plan. Yes, I will be making them immediately
A woman after my own heart. Wish I could have shared; I might have had one or two more than I should have. Or four. 🙂
I would plan to make my holiday candies and treats with these. I promised my sister that this year we would have the holiday cooking bakin’, candy makin’, wine tastin’ at my house so these goodies would be a great start to keeping that promise! I’m already a follower on Twitter @Tribechic! Thanks! Juls
These look like the perfect treat to try out for my hubby’s birthday! And I may actually have all the ingredients! But the samples you received look scrumptious and if I don’t win I will give them an order! Cuz that’s the kinda follower I am! @Tribechic!
Rice Krispie treats go upscale. Love this!
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Beautiful treats, I love your presentation!
I’m also already subscribed to your Twitter page! 🙂
Looks like these turned out amazing! I already subscribe to your email.
I would make muffins for my friends’ thanksgiving coming up!
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These look absolutely delicious!!
I have been following @everydayum on Twitter and left you a new tweet.
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I have been following you via email and love your Blog!
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Gosh, that looks over-the-top good! And a great updating of an old classic. Good stuff – thanks.
I would make some cookies, breads and some pies. I already have my brain working!
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Wow. Totally indulgent, over-the-top Rice Krispie treats for adults. I love it!
I must admit that I was thrown off by the title of the post when I saw it in my inbox– Rice Krispie Treats from you?? Now I see how grown up and well thought out these treats have become and it all makes sense. These are NOT your average krispie treats! They look great!
I need to make a treat to serve to the adults at our local Harvest Festival–there will be enough kiddo treats. Belleville Bars look like just the ticket…an childhood favorite updated for a grown-up palate. 🙂
RSS feed – check, Twitter – check and I have to pin these on my Comfort Food Pinterest Board. Boy, Barb, bad you….I am so craving these now!
You have me laughing! I make fun of blogs that post rice krispie treats but yours are so very adult, so decadent and now I , for the first time, have the desire to try and make a version of these. Sadly no Kraft caramels (a joy of my youth) but would make a local specialty: salted butter caramel. Super decadent yours! I do want one right now!
I know! I sort of hesitated because I also hate seeing the plethora of goop upon goop sweets that some do but this was a challenge and I’m not kidding, the result was so good. Lots of texture and really it’s a rice krispie turtle…how could that be bad? 🙂
I want these. I’ve wanted them since I first heard you mention them a week or two back. I want to make them and eat them now. But what are Kraft caramels & where do I get them in Australia, Barbara?!!
Here they’re in the ‘candy aisle’ where all of the packaged candy is displayed. Any kind of packaged caramel would work. I hesitated to mention using a jar of caramel sauce or even homemade caramel sauce. The one thing I like about the Kraft caramels is that the end result is thick and firms up…this is no place for runny sauce so much. Hope that helps a bit?
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This sounds amazing. There have been a lot of jazzed up rice crispies recipes hitting the food blogs and I haven’t been inclined to make any of them. But -walnuts! caramel! chocolate! – I would make it with milk chocolate and be sure to add a sprinkling of salt over the whole thing.