Step 1: Prepare the Work Surface and Ingredients

1. Grease Your Hands or Molds:

Marshmallow treats can get sticky! Lightly grease your hands with butter or non-stick spray before shaping the brains. If you’re using brain-shaped molds, grease them lightly as well. You can also line a baking sheet with parchment paper to place the shaped brains on once they’re done.

2. Measure Out the Rice Bubbles:

Measure 6 cups of Rice Bubbles cereal and set it aside. This will be mixed with the marshmallow mixture later.

Step 2: Melt the Butter and Marshmallows

1. Melt the Butter:

In a large saucepan, melt 1/4 cup of butter over low heat. Stir occasionally to prevent the butter from browning.

2. Add the Marshmallows:

Once the butter is melted, add the entire bag of mini marshmallows to the saucepan. Stir constantly until the marshmallows are completely melted and smooth. This should take about 3-4 minutes.

3. Add Vanilla and Food Coloring:

Once the marshmallows are fully melted, stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract for extra flavor. If you want to give the brains a fleshy or bloody tone, add a few drops of red or pink food coloring and stir until the mixture is evenly colored.

Step 3: Mix the Marshmallow and Rice Bubbles

1. Combine the Marshmallow and Cereal:

Remove the saucepan from the heat and immediately add the Rice Bubbles cereal to the melted marshmallow mixture. Stir quickly and thoroughly until all of the cereal is evenly coated with the marshmallow mixture. It’s important to do this step quickly before the marshmallow mixture cools down and starts to harden.

2. Let the Mixture Cool Slightly:

Allow the mixture to cool slightly for about 2-3 minutes. This will make it easier to shape without burning your hands, but make sure it’s still pliable.

Step 4: Shape the Brains

1. Form Brain Shapes:

Once the mixture is cool enough to handle, start shaping it into brain-like mounds. Take a handful of the mixture (about 1/4 cup per brain) and form it into an oval shape, roughly resembling the size of a small brain. You can press lightly in the center to create the appearance of the two brain hemispheres. If you’re using brain-shaped molds, press the mixture into the molds instead.

2. Place on Baking Sheet:

As you shape the brains, place them on the prepared baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Let them cool and set for about 15-20 minutes before decorating.

Step 5: Decorate the Brains

Now that your marshmallow brains are shaped, it’s time to make them look extra spooky with some decorations!

1. Add Blood Effect:

Use red decorating gel or red icing to create a blood effect on the brains. You can drizzle the red gel over the tops of the brains or pipe it into the grooves to resemble blood veins. The more haphazard the blood looks, the spookier the effect!

2. Add Candy Eyes (Optional):

For an extra creepy touch, place candy eyes randomly on the brains, or make one of the brains a cyclops with a single large candy eye in the center. This gives the brains a playful and ghoulish look.

3. Drizzle with White Chocolate (Optional):

If you want to add some extra detail, melt some white chocolate and drizzle it over the brains. You can tint the white chocolate with green food coloring to create a slime-like effect.

4. Sprinkle with Edible Glitter or Sprinkles:

For a fun twist, sprinkle the brains with edible glitter or Halloween-themed sprinkles. This adds a bit of sparkle and makes them even more festive.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy!

Once your Marshmallow Rice Bubbles Halloween Brains are fully decorated, they’re ready to serve! These treats are best enjoyed the same day while they’re still fresh and gooey. Serve them on a Halloween-themed platter or create a spooky display by placing them in a brain-shaped serving bowl.