This Rice Crispy Treat Cupcake recipe is the first thing I made after ordering Dandies Vegan Marshmallows from Chicago Soy Dairy. I feel like a kid again. Vegan baking doesn't get much easier than melting margarine, marshmallows, adding vanilla extract then mixing in puffed rice. Making the ganache is slightly more involved but still simple. Be sure to make these as close to your eating occasion as possible because Rice Crispy Treats love to dry out. If you need to make them a day or so beforehand, keep them in an air-tight container.

¼ cup margarine
4 ¾ cups regular size vegan marshmallows
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

5 ½ cups puffed rice cereal

1 preparation of Dark Velvet Ganache, Easy Ganache or other frosting recipe
2 Tablespoons non-dairy milk (mixed into the ganache to make it softer)

1)
Place cupcake liners in cupcake tins for 12 cupcakes. In a large saucepan, melt the margarine slowly over low heat. Add the marshmallows and stir until melted and well incorporated. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

2)
Thoroughly mix in the puffed rice cereal with a spoon. 

3)
Press the mixture into each cupcake mold so it takes up the all the space in the mold. You want the cupcakes to be slightly domed. Let them cool for at least 2 hours.

4)
While your little cupcakes are cooling prepare your Dark Velvet Ganache or other frosting. Don't forget to mix in 2 extra Tablespoons of non-dairy milk so the ganache is a frosting consistency. Pipe it or thinly spread it over the cupcakes after they have cooled. You don't want to over do the ganache or the the cupcakes will be a little on the too-sweet side. If you used Dark Velvet Ganache, wait another few hours for it to cool to near room temperature before piping or spreading. These only keep for a few days which is a great excuse to just accidentally eat as many as possible.

Rice Crispy Treat Cupcake Variations

For peanut butter Rice Crispy Treats add a ¼ cup peanut butter to the melted margarine and marshmallow mixture.

For Chocolate Chip Rice Crispy Treats mix in 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips after you mix in the puffed rice cereal.

For Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats mix in a ½ cup of sifted cocoa powder and 2 Tablespoons of non-dairy milk into the margarine and marshmallow mixture.

For Coconut Rice Crispy Treats add a ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut to the melted margarine and marshmallow mixture.

You can also use different cereals other than puffed rice cereal for fun variations.