Fantasy Foodball: Reindeer Pops vs. Snowmen Pops

With only 4 weeks left in the football season, you've likely exhausted (if not repeated) most Sunday entertaining foods. When the season kicked off in September, warmer weather meant burgers, hot dogs and the like. Then cooler climates ushered grills from off patios and into storage, calling instead on heartier fall fare like chili for your tailgating parties. Sure, chicken wings may always be a good play on gameday, but this week we're calling an audible and leaning on the holidays for some Sunday foodball inspiration.
Rather than bringing another savory snack to your TV room, balance out the bar food with something sweet. Hand-held, bite-sized and covered in marshmallow and chocolate, these cereal pops are the sort of treat you'll want to serve. Sure, they may be intended for dessert, but lay them out early and watch them get plucked in a matter of minutes.
Apropos this week’s match-up between the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers, we’re teaming up with the National Football League to offer up a rice cereal pop recipe with two rival twists — one red and reindeer-themed, and the other an ode to snowmen. Taking sides is always tough, but choosing between these two? It may be too tough to call.
Prep Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time: 10 minutes.
To make them firm enough for coating, place in the freezer for 3 minutes
Use approximately 2 to 3 cups of milk chocolate candy melting discs, place in microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 second intervals until melted and mixed to a smooth consistency
Dip rice cereal pops into the chocolate and turn pop to coat entirely, tap edge of bowl to remove excess chocolate drips
Using red colored chocolate candies, place nose onto center of rice cereal pop
Allow the chocolate to completely cool before inserting the Pretzels as the antlers, be sure to break the Pretzels in half before inserting
Use approximately 2 to 3 cups of white chocolate candy melting discs, place in microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 second intervals until melted and mixed to a smooth consistency
Dip rice cereal pops into the white chocolate and turn pop to coat entirely, tap edge of bowl to remove excess white chocolate drips
Place two mini chocolate chips as the eyes and use five to form the mouth
Place licorice string on top of rice pop from right to left to help form the ear muff band
Use two blue colored chocolate candies and place on the ends of the licorice strings to complete the ear muffs
To complete the rice cereal pops, add decorative ribbon to the stick in the NFL team colors of your choice.