Crispy Rice Easter Eggs

Sugary, gooey goodness for Easter. 

Hey, even though I don't give my kids candy, there are plenty of other cavity-inducing treats out there.  There are endless variations of these Rice Krispies Easter eggs.  I thought the dipper eggs were really cute, although honestly, don't the original treats have enough sugar? 

Just for fun, and for my chocoholic son, I dipped a few "eggs" in chocolate.  I didn't have shortening on hand, so I just melted chocolate chips in the microwave (and heard zero complaints).  My kids are pretty adverse to sprinkles, but I think the eggs are pretty darling with them, yes?

Almost as easy as the original recipe, just get ready to get your hands dirty:

6 cups Rice Krispies cereal (or any puffed rice alternative)
3 tablespoons Earth Balance
1 10 oz. bag of marshmallows
1 pull-apart plastic egg

Optional:
1-1/2 cups Ghiradelli or Trader Joe's semi-sweet chocolate chips
5 teaspoons shortening
multi-colored sprinkles

1. Melt margarine over low heat in a large pot, and grease the inside of your egg with margarine.
2. Add marshmallows and stir frequently until all is melted.  Remove from heat.

3. Add Rice Krispies (and some sprinkles if you like) to pot and stir.

4. Grease hands (more like, slather hands--back and front, and reapply between eggs) with margarine.  You'll have to rinse off any castaways during the process too.
5. Scoop up Rice Krispies mixture and use egg to mold (no need to regrease egg).  Put on wax paper or Silpat to cool.
6. If you want, melt shortening and chocolate chips on low heat and dip eggs in chocolate and sprinkles.
Cool on wax paper and refrigerate. 

7. Wrap individually in plastic wrap to store.

Makes about 18 eggs.
The critics agree...egg-cellent!

Variation:  Hidden Surprise Easter Egg recipe.  They use m & m's in the original recipe (which have dairy) and are a little more labor intensive than the eggs, but I'd LOVE for someone to try them and send me pics!

Another variation: Try with 3/4 cups of safe "nut" butter (we use soy nut butter or sun butter) and 1 cup honey microwaved until melted (microwave on half heat at 20 second increments and stir) instead of the marshmallow mixture.  Mmmmm....