No-Bake 5 Minute Chocolate Marshmallow Crackles

I’ve been so reluctant to pack away any of my baking tins and trays since I was pretty sure I would need them again this week. My family and every one else around here thought I wouldn’t and that I have made and fed enough sweet treats to them for the year. Along with baking tins, naturally there were other props that needed to stick around too. So as it turns out, I am a week away from moving and the boxes are sitting all around the house with nothing in them and the boys are using them as push carts to give each other a joy ride.

Finally out of guilt and panic, I agreed to a ‘no elaborate baking’ arrangement. And then these were born. Did not even need baking. Seriously, something as easy as this and tasting so insanely good. It takes 5 minutes from start to finish to make the crackles..at the most 10 if you are making it for the first time. Then they just chill and set in the refrigerator. The ganache takes another 3 minutes to make and is poured over the crackle mixture. And that’s it! Eat them, store them, gift them or share them…they are a joy to have. Even simpler than cookies. Honestly, aren’t you getting a bit tired of cookies…I know I am!

You can use up dried fruits or nuts in them and be creative as you want to be. I used the home-made marshmallows that I made last week for the Marshmallow Sandwich cookies. These are chewy little bars…a bit of crunch here and there, sweet from the glace cherries and apricots. I have used milk chocolate in the crackles and bittersweet chocolate in the ganache to balance the sweetness. I also piped a little ganache on top and sprinkled lemon jelly crystals for a hint of tang. You could skip the ganache if you want to keep it simple and quick but then the ganache too is hardly any effort.

Hope you have a great weekend. We have so many activities lined up for the weekend but I am most excited to see the Christmas lighting in CBD (city centre) and of course taking the kids to meet their favourite Santa. They are so looking forward to it.

No-Bake 5 Minute Chocolate Crackles
Makes 10-12 Crackles

For the Crackles
2 cups Rice Bubbles (I used Kellogg’s)
1/2 cup red glace cherries
1/2 cup dried apricots
1/4 cup glace ginger
200 g milk chocolate, roughly chopped
250 g marshmallows
2 tbsp. milk

For the Ganache
120 g dark chocolate, roughly chopped
1/4 cup thickened cream

Grease a 10cm x 25cm (base) rectangular pan. Line base and sides with baking paper, allowing 3 cm overhang on all sides.

Place rice bubbles, cherries, apricots and ginger in a heatproof bowl. Place chocolate in a saucepan which is placed on another saucepan filled with simmering water over medium heat minutes. Stir with a metal spoon till smooth and completely melted. Set aside to cool slightly.

Meanwhile, place marshmallows and milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring for 5 minutes or until melted and smooth. Working quickly, add chocolate to the marshmallow mixture. Mix and add to rice bubble mixture. Stir to combine. Spread into prepared pan. Press a little bit with the back of a spoon.

Make the Chocolate Ganache: Place the chocolate and cream in a microwave safe bowl and microwave in bursts of 20 seconds till mixture is smooth and well combined (about 2 minutes). Pour the ganache over the crackle. Cover. Refrigerate for 4 hours or until set.

Once cooled, slice into squares and serve.