Bewitching Cocoa Bites

Description
Recipe from Hershey's Kitchens
 * About 3½ dozen treats

Ingredients

 * 5 cups crisp rice cereal
 * 6 tbsp butter or margarine
 * 3 cups miniature marshmallows or 30 large marshmallows
 * 1⅔ cups (10-oz pkg) Reese's peanut butter chips
 * ⅓ cup Hershey's cocoa
 * ⅓ cup light corn syrup
 * Hershey's holiday bits for baking

Directions

 * 1) Measure cereal; set aside.
 * 2) Melt butter in large saucepan over low heat.
 * 3) Add marshmallows, peanut butter chips and cocoa.
 * 4) Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until marshmallows and chips are melted.
 * 5) Remove from heat.
 * 6) Stir in corn syrup.
 * 7) Add cereal; stir until well coated.
 * 8) Shape mixture into 1½-inch balls, stirring a few times during shaping.
 * 9) Place on cookie sheet.
 * 10) Cool completely.
 * 11) Press about 6 bits into each treat, if desired.
 * 12) Store in cool dry place.

Microwave directions

 * 1) Place butter in large microwave-safe bowl.
 * 2) Microwave at high (100%) 45 seconds or until melted.
 * 3) Add marshmallows, peanut butter chips and cocoa; stir.
 * 4) Microwave at high 1½ minutes; stir until mixture is smooth.
 * 5) Stir in corn syrup.
 * 6) Add cereal; stir until well coated.
 * 7) Shape as directed above.