Rice Cereal Treats

cooking spray
1/4 cup butter
1 package (10-oz) marshmellows (the large kind)
1 teaspoon vanilla
food coloring (optional)
6 1/2 cups cristy rice cereal (any brand will do)
sprinkles (optional)
cookie cutter (optional)

1. Spray a 13x9 in baking dish with cooking spray
2. Melt butter and marshmellows over medium-low heat in a large sauce pan, stirring frequently so that you can keep and eye on the melting progress. Remove from heat, add the vanilla, and food coloring (if using). Add the cereal and stir gently until the cereal is well coated.
3. Spray the back of a wooden spoon with cooking spray and use that spoon to spread your cereal mixture into your prepared dish. Allow to cook completely.
4. Sprinkle with sugar sprinkles, if desired and cut into your desired shape. As you can tell from my photo above I cut mine into star shapes using a cookie cutter.