July 3, 2013

Cinnamon Roll Krispie Treats

You know, I've been watching a lot of Leverage lately (because it's been a while since I went on a five season television show binge. I was due.), and every time they break into a business with super high-tech, unhackable security, I kind of have to snicker. Oh, getting a pass with the proper access, then finding a way through the motion- and heat- and seismic-sensored security system is always impossible and so difficult and usually involves Parker rapelling down an elevator shaft then doing gymnastics to get through the lasers and then Hardison hacks into the computer system while Nate and Sophie grift the CEO and Elliot finds some security guy to punch out.

Talk about suspension of disbelief here, people.

Look, I don't doubt that there are some companies out there with that kind of security, but as someone who does security, let me tell you that my system was so out-of-date that it could only run on Windows XP, so I was using computers so old that two of them just up and died on me. Just gave up the ghost. The first one just made a sort of sickly beeping noise that I translated as, "Just leave me to die." We finally managed to get an upgrade when IT said they didn't have anymore computers old enough, and they were not going to build us a new one since I had just gotten a brand new computer so I wouldn't have these problems.
The hardest security measure to get past in our building is me. But in the show, Elliot just kind of flirts his way by the receptionist.

Do you guys even know how often people try that with me? How many vendors come in and try to charm information out of me? How many consultants come in and try to get me to let them upstairs, pretty please, we promise we won't tell? How many cold callers start off with, "And how are you doing today? You have such a nice voice, blah, blah, blah"? (Although G assures me that my "phone voice" makes me sound like one of those phone sex line actors. She calls it my porn voice.) (Sometimes I think I share way too much with you guys.) I even had one guy come in who was like, "Oh, I just spoke to Joe. He said just to let me up."

Yeah, and the five year old I used to babysit never tried that line on me, either. It turned out Joe really did say that to him, but Joe did not tell me, so I didn't let him up until Joe called me and told me to.

I'm not saying that five professional con artists wouldn't be able to find a way past me. I'm just saying that is not the way to do it. That would just annoy me and I would be even less helpful than I might be otherwise.
Potential cons aside, it's been really super hot lately. Too hot for baking. A while ago, I had pinned a recipe for "cinnamon roll" krispie treats, but it ended up just being regular krispie treats with some cinnamon added and some cream cheese icing. Good idea, but I didn't love the execution. Since it's been too hot and sticky to turn on the oven, I decided to make my own version.

I wanted the treats themselves to have a really robust flavor like a cinnamon roll would, so I used browned butter and Biscoff spread in the marshmallow mixture. Then I pressed it into a rimmed baking sheet, and spread some cinnamon roll filling on top. Then I rolled it all up, made a little powdered sugar icing to drizzle on top (powdered sugar and water, easy peasy) to make it look nice, then had a quick and easy no-bake version of a cinnamon roll perfect for the summer. And since it's cereal, it's totally okay to eat for breakfast. You have my permission.
Cinnamon Roll Krispie Treats
Yield: About 12 servings

Ingredients
For the cereal treats:
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1 (10 oz.) pkg. marshmallows
1/2 cup Biscoff spread
6 & 1/2 cups crisped rice cereal

For the filling:
1 & 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
2 & 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Directions
Prepare the cereal treats: Generously spray a jelly roll pan with non-stick cooking spray. In a large pot over medium low heat, melt the butter. Continue to heat, stirring constantly, until the butter turns a light golden brown. Immediately add the marshmallows, and continue to stir until completely melted. Stir in the Biscoff spread, and remove from heat. Add the cereal and stir until well coated in the marshmallow mixture. Press evenly into the prepared pan (wet your hands for this so they don't stick).

Prepare the filling: In a small saucepan, add all the filling ingredients and heat on low until the butter is melted and the sugar is dissolved. Spread evenly on top of the cereal treats. Carefully roll the treats like you would a cinnamon roll. Let sit until cool and set, then slice and serve.

Recipe by Kim