Michigan Cottage Cook: VERNA’S YUMMY CHOCOLATE PEANUT CRISPY CLUSTERS--IS IT A NO-BAKE COOKIE OR CANDY--YOU DECIDE

Need something quick to fill up a cookie tray, take to an event, or give to the neighbors? Here is a sweet, salty, crispy treat. If you look at each individual ingredient, you will see that not only is it yummy but it is good for you. Peanuts have good nutritional value as do raisins. Cereal is good for you and they tell us chocolate is good for us too. We know chocolate is good for our spirit.

These treats go together with a twinkling of an eye. The ingredients are found in most pantries and no baking is required. Children love to stir them up and scoop them out. I scooped out some of the chocolate mixture into individual miniature cupcake papers and the rest right on to waxed paper.

Chocolate makes everyone happy. Enjoy!!!

Tom went to the store for me to get Rice Krispies cereal. He grabbed a box and when he returned home we found out there is a new cereal, Rice Krispies Treats. I used them instead of traditional rice krispies and they worked well. I made a double batch of treats and was worried that in our cold cottage the chocolate would set up before I had it all scooped out. I put my heating pad on medium, place the chocolate mixture bowl on the heating pad where it stayed nice and warm.

VERNA’S YUMMY CHOCOLATE PEANUT CRISPY CLUSTERS

1 c semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 c peanut butter
1 c rice krispies
½ c raisins
½ c dry roasted peanuts

Ingredients: Chocolate chips, peanut butter, rice krispies cereal, raisins, and dry roasted peanuts.

In a mixing bowl, carefully melt the chocolate and peanut butter together in the microwave. Be sure no water gets into the chocolate. I microwave on 50% power and check every minute. The chips will look like that are not melted until you stir them. Add the rest of the ingredients; mix. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper or into individual miniature cupcake papers. I use a cookie scoop to drop the chocolate mixture onto waxed paper, and into the cups. Allow to cool and set. I put them in our cold garage to set.