"Pot of Gold" Marshmallow Pops

If you don’t find a real pot of gold at the end of the rainbow this year, perhaps these marshmallow pops can be a close second. Chocolate and marshmallows are made even better by the crunch of Kix “gold” at top.

To make pot of gold marshmallow pops:

You will need:*

Marshmallows
Kitchen scissors
Lollipop sticks
Chocolate chips
Microwave-safe bowl
Vegetable shortening (optional)
Styrofoam block
Kix cereal

*Find the lollipop sticks and Styrofoam block at the craft store.

 Snip the bottom of a marshmallow all around the edge to make a pot shape. Tip: To prevent sticking, you can smear a bit of vegetable shortening on the blades of the kitchen scissors.  Insert lollipop sticks into the marshmallows at the rounded side.

 Pour chocolate chips (about 1 cup at a time) into a small, but deep, microwave safe bowl. A glass measuring cup works well for this. Melt the chocolate in the microwave according to package directions, about 90 seconds at 70 percent power, then at 30 second and 15 second intervals, stirring after each interval, until the chocolate is fully melted. Tip: To make the chocolate more easily dip-able, add a teaspoon of vegetable shortening before microwaving. Meanwhile, have your Kix cereal ready in a bowl and set up your Styrofoam block.

Work with one marshmallow pop at a time. Dip the entire marshmallow into the chocolate, gently tap the edge of the bowl with the lollipop stick to remove the excess chocolate.

 Prop the pop in the Styrofoam block, and immediately place Kix cereal at the top of the marshmallow. Let set about an hour in the fridge.

To make these a day ahead, let set and store flat on a piece of wax paper in a seal-able container or place flat in a zip-top bag and keep in the fridge.

Meaghan Mountford, author of Sugarlicious: 50 Cute and Clever Treats for Every Occasion, has been creating crafty sweets for 15 years. She is especially fond of decorating cookies, marshmallows and putting sweets on sticks. See more on her blog, the decorated cookie.