Caramel Crispies

 

6

cups Honey Nut Cheerios® cereal

1

bag (14 oz) vanilla caramels, unwrapped

3

tablespoons water

2

cups miniature marshmallows

1/2

cup semisweet or milk chocolate chocolate chips

1

tablespoon shortening

1/4

cup miniature candy-coated semisweet chocolate baking bits

• 1 Spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray. Place cereal in large bowl; set aside.
• 2 In medium microwavable bowl, microwave unwrapped caramels and water uncovered on High 2 minutes 30 seconds to 4 minutes, stirring after each minute, until mixture is smooth. Remove from microwave.
• 3 Pour caramel mixture over cereal in bowl; stir until cereal is evenly coated. Gently stir in marshmallows. Pour cereal mixture into pan. With buttered back of spoon, press mixture in pan until even.
• 4 In small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips and shortening uncovered on High 1 to 2 minutes, stirring after each minute, until mixture is smooth. Drizzle chocolate over top of cereal mixture. Sprinkle baking bits evenly over chocolate. Refrigerate until mixture is firm and glaze is set, about 1 hour.
• 5 With table knife, cut cereal mixture into 9 rows by 4 rows to make 36 bars. Store in loosely covered container.