Banana Pudding Rice Krispie Treats

Ingredients

• 4 ½ cups Rice Krispies cereal
• 24 vanilla wafer cookies (14 crushed, 10 whole for topping)
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 (10 oz) bag mini marshmallows
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup banana pudding mix (instant, dry)

Instructions

1. Start by preparing the vanilla wafer cookies. In a zip-top bag or using a food processor, crush 14 of the vanilla wafer cookies into fine crumbs. Set these aside to mix into the Rice Krispies treat base. Leave 10 whole cookies for topping later, which will add an extra decorative crunch to the finished treats.
2. In a large saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Stir the butter occasionally to prevent it from browning. Once melted, add the mini marshmallows to the saucepan. Stir constantly until the marshmallows are fully melted and combined with the butter, forming a smooth, creamy mixture.
3. Once the marshmallows have melted, remove the saucepan from the heat and immediately stir in the vanilla extract and the banana pudding mix. The banana pudding mix will give the treats their signature banana flavor, adding a creamy, rich taste that complements the other ingredients perfectly.
4. Next, add the Rice Krispies cereal to the marshmallow mixture. Stir gently to combine, making sure all of the cereal is coated in the marshmallow mixture. The consistency should be sticky, but not too wet. Once combined, fold in the crushed vanilla wafer crumbs for added texture and flavor. Be sure to distribute the crumbs evenly throughout the mixture.