Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispie Treats

Now that we're in the middle of the SEC football season, smack talk is at an all-time high at work. Love it! We even have game day snacks each Friday for the associates. Last Friday's spread included meatballs, chips and dip, Oreo truffles, and Rice Krispie treats. Not just plain 'ole Rice Krispie treats. I finally took this opportunity to reproduce the beloved (or, I should say my beloved) orange and white checkerboard pattern.

Not surprisingly, I first found this idea on Pinterest. My intent was to simply use orange food coloring to make the needed variation. But then I ran across the idea of making Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispie treats. Perfect! I still used the orange food coloring, but adding a small amount of pumpkin pie spice gave it a subtle flavor perfect for this time of year.

It was a hit! Even one of my students who is a die-hard South Carolina fan couldn't resist this snack.

And it worked! UT won! Congrats to Butch Jones on his first SEC victory! I guess I will be making these for the remainder of the season. What's the commercial say? "It's only weird if it doesn't work!"

Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispie Treats

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 (10 oz) package miniature marshmallows (approximately 4 cups)
• 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• orange food coloring (approximately 10 drops), optional

Directions:
In large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat and stir in pumpkin pie spice and orange food coloring (if using), working quickly until well combined. Add cereal. Stir until well coated.

Evenly press mixture into 9x13 casserole dish coated with cooking spray. Cool completely before cutting into 2 inch squares and serving.

Tailgating or football party tip:  Make one regular batch of treats and one batch of pumpkin spice treats. Arrange into a checkerboard pattern for your UT fans. Go Vols!