Cereal-and-Granola "Apples

Ingredients

• 0.3 cup butter 
• 3 cups rice cereal crisp
• 4 cups cereal 
• 10 oz regular marshmallows 
• 32 inch pretzel rods 
• 12 oz semisweet chocolate morsels 
• 8 servings orange decorator sugar crystals 

Equipment

• bowl
• plastic wrap
• wax paper
• microwave

Directions

1. Microwave butter and marshmallows in a lightly greased large microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth.
2. Stir in cereal and granola, in batches, until well coated.
3. Coat hands with cooking spray. Shape warm mixture into 8 (4-inch) balls (about 1 cup each), lightly greasing hands as needed.
4. Place balls on wax paper. Press 1 pretzel rod half, broken end down, into top of each ball.
5. Let cool completely (about 30 minutes).
6. Microwave chocolate morsels in a microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute. Stir until smooth.
7. Let stand, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes.
8. Drizzle chocolate over balls; sprinkle with sugar.
9. To make ahead: Wrap in plastic wrap, and store at room temperature for up to 2 days.
10. Crisp Rice Cereal "Apples": Omit granola, and increase crisp rice cereal to 7 cups. Proceed with recipe as directed.