Microwavable Crisp Rice Star Pops

Our first cooking project added to the blog...and we use the term "cooking" very loosely!


Difficulty Level:  Easy
Approximate Time to Allot: 15 minutes (half of an OT session)


Ingredients:

• crisp rice cereal
• mini marshmallows
• butter
• colored sprinkles
• microwave safe bowl
• measuring cups
• paper plates
• star cookie cutters
• popsicle sticks
• paper plate
• mixing spoon
• permanent marker

Step 1:

Measure 1/2 cup of mini marshmallows and
1 tablespoon of butter into the microwave safe bowl.

Step 2:

Microwave on high in 30 second increments,
until the marshmallows and butter have fully melted.
Be sure to check the temperature of the bowl so that your kiddos don't get burned!!

**SKILL ALERT!!** Using the microwave is a great way to practice safety awareness with cooking skills, it is always a good reminder that when cooking, things can get hot. 

Step 3:

Mix melted marshmallows and butter together, until it
becomes a stringy, sticky mix.

Step 4:

Measure 1 cup of crisp rice cereal...

Step 5:

...and stir them into the marshmallow/butter mixture.

**SKILL ALERT!!** Having the student use one hand to stir and the other hand to hold the bowl is a great way to work on bilateral coordination.

You will know that you are done stirring when it begins to form a ball around the spoon!

Step 6:

Pack the crisp rice/marshmallow/butter mixture into the star cookie cutter.
The tighter it is packed, the better it will be!

**SKILL ALERT!!**As the student is pouring the mixture into the star they are practicing their spatial awareness skills and bilateral coordination!!

Step 7:

Add colored sprinkles, cuing the kids to sprinkle "lightly!"
We did red and blue for Memorial Day!

**SKILL ALERT!!**Using sprinkles is a great way to practice hand eye coordination as the students attempt to put the sprinkles on only half of the star.

Step 8:

When you are finished with the sprinkles, carefully push the
star out of the cookie cutter.


**SKILL ALERT!!**  This is a great way to practice pressure regulation, as well as body awareness skills, as it can be very difficult to gently push the star out of the cookie cutter.  If they push too hard, it will break, and if they don't push hard enough, it won't come out!

Step 9:

Gently add a popsicle stick into the bottom of the star and allow it to sit for 30-45 minutes to cool and harden!

Enjoy!!!

**Tell us what you think by commenting below!