How to Jazz Up Rice Krispy Treats for School Snacks

Rice Krispy treats are a classroom favorite for birthdays, holiday treats, parties and special school snack days. Whether you're a teacher or a parent, Rice Kripsy treats are easy to prepare ahead of time, save until snack time and serve with virtually no mess. But sometimes a school party calls for more than just any old Rice Krispy treat-jazz up these perennial favorites with colors, flavors, shapes and more to keep kids happy and school parties festive.

First, add color to the plain Rice Krispy treat. A few drops of food coloring in the marshmallow mix can color an entire batch of cereal squares. Or place the dry cereal in a plastic bag and toss with food coloring before mixing in with the marshmallows. This easy step may be enough for your school snack. Make a batch of red and a batch green, then mix the squares on a tray for a Christmas party. You can also color two different bags of rice cereal, allow them to dry, them mix the colored cereals together for the treats.

Use food coloring, powdered sugar and small amounts of water to make a colored frosting to quickly top traditional cereal square snacks, like cupcakes. Add a few sprinkles and cupcake favors, like plastic cartoon-themed rings or figurines.

Use cookie cutters to make shaped Rice Krispy treats, instead of boring squares. Wait until the pan of treats has cooled, then press cookie cutters into the pan. Fit as many shapes as possible into the mixture before pulling out the shapes. Choose a shape to match your school mascot or pick shapes based on classroom lessons. Use stars and planets for a science treat, shapes for geometry or symbols for culture classes.

Mix in other cereals with bold colors, like Fruity Pebbles or crushed Fruit Loops. Or opt for fun cereals with mini-marshmallows like Lucky Charms, Boo Berry and Count Chocula. For a more healthy alternative, make marshmallow cereal bars from Special K Chocolatey Delight or fiber-rich granola cereals. For kids, mix granolas half-and-half with colorful, sugary cereals until they get used to the healthy versions.

Add mix-ins for special Rice Kripsy Treats. Mix a handful of colorful gummy fruit snacks, dried fruits, raisins, yogurt-covered raisins, nuts, or candy chips to add flavor, color and variety. Add extra whole-marshmallows, chocolate chips and chocolate syrup to Rice Krispies treats for a rocky road version. Or add fresh, sliced cherries and vanilla chips for a cherries-and-cream flavor. Reese's chips and chocolate chips mix together for a chocolate-peanut-butter cereal bar-top each square with a single Reese's cup to decorate.

Make an extra-deep batch of Rice Krispy treats by doubling the recipe in one pan or using a narrower, deeper pan. Press the mixture firmly into the pan to fill all air-bubbles then cover tightly with clear, plastic wrap. With a marker, mark on the plastic wrap where you want to cut the squares, leaving each at least three inches wide. Push a popsicle stick through the plastic into the center of each square-the plastic will help support the stick as the treats cool. Once the snacks have hardened, serve each treat on a stick for a no-freeze Rice Krispy popsicle.