Pantry Cookies

I contemplated calling this recipe Rice Krispie Treat Cookies, because that's essentially what these are. I had ingredients left over from making rice krispie treats, but not enough to make another batch, so I had to think of a way to use them up. Have you heard of Everything But the Kitchen Sink cookies? They use up whatever is in the pantry that isn't enough to use for anything else. This is my version of the EBKS cookies... but let's call them Pantry Cookies, okay? It's just easier to say and doesn't conjure up images of dirty dishes.

Mixing cereal into cookies certainly isn't a new thing in the baking world... but it is a good way to use up left over cereal! Rice Krispies mixed with mini marshmallows (which don't completely evaporate at this temperature/time combo) make for a rice krispie treat style chew, but with the bite of a cookie. The small hint of peanut butter comes through to mix things up a bit, and then there are chocolate chips added into the mix to round everything out. Shawn said "damn, these are really good cookies", and I'm inclined to agree with him.

Pantry Cookies

• 1¼ cups (160 grams) all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup (113 grams) butter
• ½ cup (100 grams) brown sugar
• ½ cup (100 grams) white sugar
• ¼ cup (125 grams) smooth natural peanut butter
• 1 large egg
• 1½ cup (38 grams) puffed rice cereal
• ½ (90 grams) semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup (50 grams) mini marshmallows

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter and both sugars until light and fluffy.
Mix in the peanut butter and egg.
Mix the dry ingredients into the wet.
In the mixer, mix in 1 cup of the puffed rice cereal, along with the chocolate chips and the marshmallows. Then, mix in 1/2 cup puffed rice cereal by hand, just until coated.
Scoop cookies and refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour.
Once firm, place cookies 3" apart onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
Bake at 350° for 13-15 minutes.

What's sitting around in your pantry?