Nutella-Hazelnut Smiley Rice Krispies Treats

Make your kids happy with these quick and super easy smiley rice krispies treats

Perfectly gooey, crispy, nutty, chocolaty... and so much fun!

Rice krispies are so much fun! There are lots of ways to get creative with such simple ingredients.
Here is a sweet recipe made with rice krispies packed in individual round sizes, decorated with white and brown chocolate chips into smiley faces. Super easy and so cute!

You could really use this idea and decorate plain rice kripies treats. But why just stop at plain when you can have more?!? Rice krispies are very easy and quick to prepare. These are just as simple and as fast. All you have to do is add nutella (at the beginning with the marshmallows and butter), and crushed hazelnuts (later with the rice Krispies cereal). You can turn a simple snack into a delicious homemade goodness: perfectly gooey, crispy, nutty and chocolaty.

Listen up! Before you run to the kitchen and grab the marshmallows, here is an important advise.
Remember to set out and measure all the ingredients before you start with the microwave. You need to be quick and mix the cereals and hazelnuts to the melted mixture of mashmallows/butter/nutella when still warm. So I beg you please!  Don't try to figure out how to crush the hazelnuts when everything is cooling down and hardening into a big mass. You won't be able to incorporate the hazelnuts at that point, and it will be harder to shape anything into the muffin cups. So be ready ahead of time, and you will rock this recipe!

Printable Recipe

Ingredients: to make about 24 treats

• 1 bag (10 oz = 285 gr) of mini marshmallows
• 4 oz (55 gr) of unsalted butter
• about 2/3 cup (about 220 gr) of Nutella, or other chocolate spread
• 6 cups (about 200 gr) of rice krispies cereal
• 1/2 cup (65 gr) of crushed, roasted hazelnuts
• white chocolate chips and mini chocolate chips for decoration

Preparation time:  20 minutes
Directions:
1. Crush the roasted hazelnuts. Set out and measure the rice krispies cereal in a bowl. So all ingredients are ready.

2. In a microwave safe large bowl, place the marshmallows, nutella and butter (cut in pieces). The bowl needs to be large, because the marshmallows in the microwave will inflate, and you don't want them to spill all over.

   
3. Microwave for 60 seconds. Check and mix. You will probably need another 30 to 40 seconds in the microwave to melt completely the ingredients. Mix again.

4. Add the rice krispies cereal and the crushed hazelnuts and mix quickly, until well coated.

5. Spoon the mixture evenly into about 24 round muffin cups. Press down with the back of a spoon to pack the treats into shape.

5. Flip the rice krispies (the bottom looks better than the top!). Decorate with the chocolate chips. I used 4 white chocolate chips for the mouth, two white for the eyes, topped with a mini (brown) chocolate chip to finish it up. Microwave the smiley faces for about 15 seconds, and let it sit there for  minute, so that the chocolate chips will slightly melt and stay in place (if not they might roll all over!) 

Store in an air tight container. And enjoy!

Peach Roses with Nutella and Hazelnuts

Beautiful rose-shaped baked dessert made with thin slices of sweet juicy ripe peaches 

wrapped in crispy pastry,  filled with creamy Nutella and crunchy crushed hazelnuts

Sinfully delicious!

Remember my rose-shaped apple dessert?  I know you do! It has been posted, shared and viewed in so many places that you think I'd be sick by now just thinking about it. But no, think again :)
I love this recipe. And what's brilliant about it: it opens up so many possibilities and combinations of ingredients, both sweet and savory, that it makes you want to experiment with something new and different. Why limit yourself to apple slice and apricot preserve, anyways?!

So, how about a filling of creamy and sweet chocolate spread?!?  You know I love Nutella! Yes, I really do. So I thought about incorporating it in my roses, combined with crushed hazelnut (of course!) for a crunchy and nutty addition to the heavenly chocolate filling.
And for the top: peaches. I found these delicious peaches at the store yesterday. They look amazing and taste even better! Ripe to the right point, and super sweet.
Rather than using the frozen puff pastry, as I did for the apple roses, I tried the Pillsbury crescent dough. Many of you asked me about it. You find it in the refrigerated section, with cookies, pizza dough and other similar things. I never buy these things ...not sure why. I rather make everything from scratch. But given that this recipe is supposed to be easy and quick, this is the place to look. And I bought the "big and flaky" dough. For thick dough and extra crispiness ... I think!
This dough bakes more quickly than the frozen dough. So watch out for the cooking time. Before removing from the oven, make sure it's fully cooked.

 Beautiful, delicious, and easy to make. Am I going rose crazy?!? Yeah, I think I am :)


Ingredients to make 8 roses

• 1 roll of Pillsbury "Grands" Crescent Big & Flaky
• 2 or 3 ripe, organic peaches, based on the size
• 8 teaspoons of Nutella (or other chocolate spread)
• 1/2 cup of chopped hazelnuts (2.5 oz,70 gr)

Preparation time: 20 minutes plus 25 minutes baking
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to  350° F (175° C). Cut the peaches in half, remove the pit, and slice as thin as you can.

2. Open the Pillsbury roll. This is divided into triangles. Keep each pair of triangles together. We want to make two long strips out of each pair.

3. On a slightly flour counter, stretch out the dough to make a long rectangle, about 4 inches by 10 inches  (10 cm x 25 cm). Cut in half lengthwise. So that in total you will have 8 strips 2 x 10 in.

4. Spread about one teaspoon of Nutella on  each strip, and sprinkle with crushed hazelnuts.

5. Place the peach slices along one edge, as shown.

6. Fold the dough in half, and roll.

7. Place the roses into a silicone muffin. Remember to grease the muffin cups if you are not using silicone.

8. Bake at 350° F (175° C) for about 25 minutes. If the top of the peaches are getting burnt, cover with aluminum foil, and place the pan at the bottom of the oven. Make sure the roses are fully baked before removing from the oven. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.

This dessert is better served immediately, but can also be stored for up to 48 hours in an air tight container. Delicious when served warm ... maybe with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream :)

Enjoy! 

Two-Layer Raspberry, Nutella and Hazelnuts Semifreddo

This refreshing semi-frozen dessert combines a creamy Nutella and crunchy hazelnuts layer, 

 topped with a tangy raspberry layer, 

all covered with a drizzle of hot chocolate and a sprinkle of chopped hazelnuts.

Last minute Mother's Day gift idea, right from your kitchen!

Happy Mother's Day! I hope you are enjoying a super special and love-filled weekend.

Here is an amazing dessert idea that will show your mom how special she is.
This heart-shaped semi-frozen dessert is simply delicious. One layer of rich and creamy Nutella and crunchy hazelnuts, topped with a chilled and tangy raspberry layer. And you can get creative with the decoration: drizzle this dessert with a little (... or a lot!) of hot chocolate, a spoonful of chopped hazelnuts. And why not, some fresh organic raspberries on the side!
And yes! As most of my other recipes, this is also quite easy to make, and you only need few ingredients that I'm sure you have in your kitchen right now. It just takes a bit of time for the layers to chill and set in the freezer. The good thing, you can prepare it ahead of time, and have it ready in the freezer for your special occasion. Trust me, all the waiting is well worth it!

Note: to make this semifreddo I used heart-shaped silicone molds, 3 inches wide, half cup capacity each. With the ingredients listed below, you end up with 12 small servings. You can also use regular, round cups to store the semifreddo in the freezer, and make bigger servings if you prefer.

Here are other ideas for a Mother's Day gift right from your kitchen.
Frozen meringue cups drizzled with hot chocolate

Or you can surprise your mom with other beautiful handmade edible bouquet of roses:
Apple roses:

I'm sure your mom will be so happy with any of these deliciously beautiful dessert.

Made with love :-)

Ingredients: to make 12 small (1/2 cup) heart-shaped cups

• 4 egg yolks, divided
• 2/3 cups (150 gr) sugar, divided, plus one tablespoon
• 12 fl oz (350 ml) of whipping cream, divided
• 6 oz (170 gr) organic raspberries
• 1/3 cup (100 gr) of Nutella, or other chocolate spread, plus some to drizzle on top for decoration
• 1/2 cup (2.5 oz, 70 gr) of chopped hazelnuts

Preparation time: 30 minutes, plus at least 2 hours in the freezer
Directions:
1. Start by preparing the raspberry layer. Bring a pan of water to a boil. In heat-safe bowl, whisk together 2 egg yolks with 1/3 cup (75 gr) of sugar.

2.  When the water boils, turn the heat to medium-low, and place the bowl on top of  the pan. Whisk for about 4 minutes. Remove the bowl from the simmering water, and let it cool off.

3. Puree the raspberries in a food processor, with one tablespoon of sugar,  and mix in the egg and sugar mixture.

4. Whip 6 oz (175 ml) of cream to soft peaks. Add to the bowl, and fold gently.

5. Spoon the mixture in silicone cups filling them halfway to the top. My cups are 1/2 cup in capacity. So I add a quarter of a cup to each, and used exactly 12 cups (filled halfway).
Place in the freezer for about 45-60 minutes until set.

6. For the nutella layer: in a heat-safe bowl, whisk together the two remaining egg yolks and 1/3 cup of sugar. Place the bowl over simmering water again, and whisk.

7. After 2 minutes, add the nutella and whisk for two more minutes.

8. Remove from the heat, add the chopped hazelnuts (save some to sprinkle on top at the end), and mix. Let it cool off.
9. Whip the remaining 6 oz of cream. Fold gently in the nutella mixture.

10. Spoon the mixture evenly in the 12 cups,which should now be filled completely. Place in the freezer again to set for at least one hour.

Serve with fresh raspberries on the side, melted chocolate (or nutella) on top, and a sprinkle of chopped hazelnut.

Oh-so delicious!