Luke’s 6th Birthday & Rice Crispy Sushi & Sashimi

I don’t make sushi often, but when I do it’s made of puffed rice, gummy worms, and fruit roll ups! Introducing the candy version of sushi made with rice crispy treats.

Rice crispy treats are one thing that everyone loves. Seriously, I can’think of anyone who would turn one down barring being on a diet. So it came as no surprise that after the lego crispy treats I made for my nephew Luke’s 5th birthday last year, I was called upon to make another crispy treat this year. This time however, the inspiration results in something that’s almost a April Fool’s Day joke – sushi made from rice crispy treats, fruit rolls ups, and gummy worms! I also made sashimi with Swedish fish and little strips of fruit roll up. They were to fit the theme of his party which was held at his Karate class. P.S. When did fruit roll ups stop imprinting cut-out shapes into the sheet and opting for printed on images instead? Super lame.

It’s fairly simple really, make a batch of rice crispy treats but make them thinner by spreading into a sheet pan with edges. After that, it’s a similar concept to my cinnamon roll crispy treats but instead of a cinnamon swirl it’s wrapped around a fruit roll up and gummy worms! As if rice crispy treats weren’t sweet enough right? Funny fact, when grocery shopping for this adventure I had no idea how much of the gummy ingredients I would need so I bought 40 roll ups and 6 smallish bags of gummy worms. I only used 12 roll ups and 16 worms. Can you say overkill? The closest estimate I made was buying two bags of Swedish fish for the sashimi when I only needed one.

What happened with all the excess “ingredients”? Well, when you are shipping a box of rice crispy treats to California in a flat rate box you stuff as much as possible into that thing. Yup, they were all shipped off to California! Well, almost all because Bob pretty much demanded we keep a few. And I did steal a two sashimi to give to a friend for her birthday because she, like me, is still a kid at heart and I figured she’d enjoy them as well.

I’d like to point out that these were so popular with the birthday boy (and his little brother, and their friends) that during the “Happy Birthday” video shared online you can see him paying more attention to the sashimi just within reach than the cupcake in front of him. #AuntErinFTW!

Luke’s 6th Birthday

Younger brother Griffin showing that Swedish fish who’s boss

Three years ago: Monster Cookies

Four years ago: Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup

Five years ago: Cake Batter Cinnamon Rolls

Six years ago: Dark Chocolate Nonpareil Peanut Butter Cookies

RICE CRISPY SUSHI & SASHIMI

Makes 39 sushi and 40 sashimi

Ingredients:

8 Tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter, divided

8 cups (two 10.5 oz. bags) mini marshmallows, divided

2 tsp vanilla extract, divided

12 cups puffed rice cereal, divided

8 whole, unrolled fruit roll ups

18 gummy worms (makes 3 rolls, 6 gummmies in each)

4 whole fruit roll ups, cut into seven 1/2-inch rolls, unrolled then cut in half again

40 Swedish fish

Directions:

1. For the sushi: Coat a 13×18-inch rimmed sheet pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
2. In a large saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter over low heat. Add one bag of marshmallows and 1 teaspoon of vanilla stirring frequently, until melted and smooth. Fold in 6 cups of the cereal until well combined and coated. Transfer sticky cereal mixture to the prepared pan, pressing down until the top is level. Allow to cool completely.
3. Slice into 3 rectangles (6×13-inches). Place 2-1/2 unrolled fruit roll ups side by side up across the top of one of the rectangles, leaving a small bar section on the bottom-long edge. Place 6 gummy worms, two at a time side by side, on top of the fruit roll ups.
4. Starting at the gummy worms, gently roll the entire piece until it comes to the end and gently seal the rice crispies together. Roll the entire roll along your work surface to smooth it out. Using a serrated knife cut the roll into 1-inch thick pieces. Repeat with remaining two rectangles.
5. For the sashimi: Coat a 9×13-inch dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
6. In a large saucepan, melt the remaining butter over low heat. Add the remaining marshmallows and vanilla stirring frequently, until melted and smooth. Fold in the cereal until well combined and coated. Transfer sticky cereal mixture to the prepared pan, pressing down until the top is level. Allow to cool completely.
7. Keeping them in the pan, cut the rice krispies into small rectangles just barely larger than the large swedish fish (about 1×2 inches).
8. Cut a wrapped fruit roll up into seven 1/2 inch strips and then un-roll, removing the wrapper. Cut each strip into half, resulting in 14 strips. Using one half, stretch it over the fish, sealing it on both sides. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
9. Serve immediately or store in an air-tight container.

Source: Adapted slightly from Thyme In Our Kitchen.