Snacks and treats at the store can be so expensive! As a stay at home mom on one income we have had to find ways to cut corners and the easiest corner to cut was junk food. Now that being said I love sweets so we couldn't cut cold turkey!
So here are two easy recipes that will fill lunch boxes and still be on a budget!
Rice Krispie Treats:
As a child or cereal lover you have probably seen the Rice Krispie recipe or made them on your own during the holiday season. But a lot of people seem to forget how easy and affordable it is to make!
All you need for your traditional Rice Krispies are:
- 6 cups of Rice Krispie cereal (or almost the entire box)
- A bag of Marshmallows (we use small or mini marshmallows but large/jumbo works as well)
- Tbs of butter
- 9x10 baking sheet
- parchment paper, wax paper, or non stick spray
- large mixing bowl
The way I make my Rice Krispies is in the microwave since I make them with my two year old son but you can also make them on the stove top.
Take a full bag of Marshmallows and the butter and cook in the microwave in a large microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second intervals so the mixture remains fluffy and doesn't clump up. The end texture should be smooth and sticky.
Pour the 6 cups of cereal into the marshmallow mix and stir until fully combined. Beware, it will be sticky and messy.
Once well combined pour into the 9x10 baking sheet that is lined with your non stick spray, parchment paper, or wax paper. I find parchment paper works best because you can lift out of the sheet when they are solid and cut easier.
Smooth evenly and put it into the fridge until harden! Once its completely cooled just cut into the size you want each treat to be and your done! I pack mine into sandwich bags to save space in the fridge. Mine lasts about two weeks but if you want them to last longer put them in the freezer or in air tight containers!
Tip: If you want to make it festive or add a little more flare you can add sprinkles, chocolate chips, or extra toppings after you evenly smooth and before you put in the fridge. You can also dip the solid krispies in chocolate or your favorite syrup to add a little coating on top of the already delicious treats!
Homemade Chocolate Cosmo Style Brownies:
As a kid my mom always had Little Debbie products in the house for us to munch on. But they only have 6 packages to a box and if you put one in your lunch boxes each day for work it would only last one week! That's not very budget friendly! So instead I decided to make my own brownies that resemble them!
What you need to make the brownies:
- Chocolate Cake Mix (any brand works)
- The ingredients to make the cake mix that are listed on the back of the box
- Sprinkles, chocolate chips, or chocolate candies found int he baking section all depends on the topping you want!)
- 9x10 baking sheet
- parchment paper or non stick spray
The first step is to set your oven the temperature it tells you on the cake mix and to make the cake mix. Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or non stick spray; parchment paper makes it easier to cut and keeps the sheet clean!
Put the cake in the over and wait. You want to pull you cake mix just as it begins to harden but still needs a few minutes to cook. This is the time to add the toppings so that they do not melt but they are actually attached to the "brownie".
Pop it back in the oven and finish baking. Once its done put the cake in the fridge and let it cool completely before cutting. You can add more toppings if you want or just leave as is!
Once it is completely cooled, cut into desired portion sizes. I can make two-three weeks worth of brownies but if you are greedy you can make them as big as you want them!
Put them into your desired containers and your done!
I buy my cake mix for a dollar since I go with store brand and buy the cheap chocolate chips so it costs me about $2 for the materials (excluding ingredients listed on the box) but it lasts me three times as long!
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