Lucky Charms Layer Cake
I haven't had Lucky Charms cereal in a good 15 years. I eat grown-up food like yogurt and fruit and poached eggs for breakfast instead. And because I like this grown-up food, I assumed that my mature self wouldn't enjoy the fantasy food of my childhood: super sugary cereals that my mom only allowed once or twice a year, if ever.
I was wrong. Lucky Charms cereal is good. Maybe because I haven't had it in a decade +, or maybe because it's laced with some kind of magically delicious, addictive fairy dust, when I recently popped a handful of hearts, stars, clovers and what's essentially sugar-coated Cheerios in my mouth, I was sort of in love. Do I love it enough to add it into my grown-up breakfast routine? No. But I love it enough to turn it into a cooler-than-corned-beef-and-cabbage St. Patrick's Day layer cake.
The "cake" is very much like another iconic cereal-of-my-youth dessert: Rice Krispies Treats, but made with Lucky Charms instead of the snap-crackle-pop stuff, and stacked like a cake with marshmallow creme in between the layers. It looks pretty sticky (because it is), but the clean-up is pretty easy and the cake cuts easily with a sharp knife -- serrated or chefs'.
You can make the cake layers a day ahead, but don't frost the cake until you're ready to serve it. Marshmallow creme gets melty very fast.
Grease two 8-inch round cake pans with cooking spray.
In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt butter and mini marshmallows, stirring constantly, until smooth.
Turn off the heat and add the cereal to the marshmallow; stir to coat.
Working quickly, divide the cereal-marshmallow mixture between the two pans. Set aside to cool for at least 30 minutes.
Just before serving, turn out one of the cereal layers and set it, flat-side down on a platter. Spoon 3/4 of the marshmallow creme onto the middle of the layer. (The marshmallow creme will soon ooze its way onto the edges; no need to spread.) Lay the top layer onto the marshmallow creme and spoon the remaining marshmallow creme onto the middle. Decorate with remaining cereal.