rice puffed fridge bars

i love quick and easy snack recipes. i am a true snacker - better yet you could call me a grazer.

i like to munch on healthy snacks throughout the day versus eating three big meals that always end up making me feel way to full.

awhile back i bought a huge bag of organic puffed cereal. for some unknown reason i had it in my head that i was buying the "healthy organic" version of golden crisp - a favorite cereal of mine from the 80's that has zero nutritional value (mom. what were you thinking buying us this!)

i rushed home with my puffed rice cereal, tore into the bag the minute i got home and shoveled a huge handful right into my mouth. boy, my taste buds were surprised to find zero sugar and packing peanut textured puffs that were stuck to the insides of my mouth. yeah, not quite golden crisp.

so the puffs sat in my cupboard for a bit until  this past weekend i had a craving then a brainstorm of an idea - gluten free puffed rice granola bars. ha - i was in business and the feeling of waste fullness was gone as i had found a new and useful purpose for those step sister like puffs.



puffed rice along with a variety of mix ins create a healthy granola fridge bar when mixed with brown rice syrup and agave.

flaked coconut, sunflower seeds, dried fruit, chocolate chunks, cacao nibs and nuts are the ingredients in my bars. i basically raided my pantry and tossed in the "bottom of the bag bits" into the bowl - this is a perfect recipe to use all those leftover handfuls of nuts & dried fruits you  have hanging out in your kitchen.

the puffed rice and the other goodness are mixed with agave and brown rice syrup -

along with a bit of coconut oil.

then pressed in a parchment lined baking pan - make sure you press down really well to ensure everything compacts really well.

the bars are placed in the fridge to set , then cut after about 20 minutes of fridge time- it is important that you store the bars in the fridge. if kept at room temp they sort of just fall apart in your hands.

this has been my pre-breakfast snack all week long.

my morning consists of green juice

then green tea and a pre breakfast snack

around 10:30am i am ready for my english muffin with peanut butter and banana - my "real" breakfast with another cup of green tea

you could also store these in the freezer which creates a bit firmer bar and a nice cold treat

next time your kids are scavenging around for a treat, whip up  a batch of these with them and you'll bet set with treats for the week!

Rice Puffed Fridge Bars

makes 10 bars

you will need:

1/3 cup agave
1/4 cup brown rice syrup
1 tbsp coconut oil
3 cups puffed rice cereal
1/3 cup of the following (2 1/3 cup total mix ins):
flaked coconut
sunflower seeds
dried fruit mix
chocolate chunks
pecans
cacao nibs

assembly:

in a small sauce pan heat agave, brown rice syrup & coconut just until melted

in a large bowl combine all other ingredients - puffs through nibs

pour the liquid mixture over the dry and mix until well coated

in a 8x8 baking dish lined with parchment paper, firmly press mixture into dish

let set in the freezer or fridge until firm

cut into 10 equal bars. store in fridge or freezer up to a week.

enjoy!

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