Tis’ the season to jump into the kitchen and whip up some of your favorite goodies… right??
These little goodies are SO GOOD. It’s funny because they taste exactly like rice crispy treats BUT there is no marshmallow involved… huh?! Go figure!
All that is involved is brown rice crispies, brown rice syrup, peanut butter, and vanilla… that’s it. If you were looking for a good old fashioned, simple and delicious rice crispy treat, you would stop right here BUT if you want to take them to the next level, in comes the chocolate.
I did a little taste testing with the chocolate options… I tried one version where I spread melted chocolate over the top and another version where I stirred the chocolate chips right in (like the picture).
My husband and I both agree that the chocolate chips win. They add the perfect amount of chocolate without being over bearing. (Truth be told, I like the chocolate spread on the top too… sure it’s more "chocolatey", but that doesn’t bother me one bit;)).
So technically speaking you can’t go wrong; they’re good plain, good with chocolate spread on top, AND good with chocolate chips stirred in… they’re a win, win, win!!
Brown Rice Crispy Treats
Ingredients
1/3 cup of all natural crunchy peanut butter
1/3 cup of brown rice syrup
3 cups of brown rice crispy cereal
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼-½ cup of chocolate chips (optional)
Makes 9 squares.
Directions
Basic Brown Rice Crispy Treat
Put you're peanut butter, rice syrup, and vanilla into a small sauce pan and heat over a low heat until the mixture becomes warm and syrupy…this will only take a few minutes.
While your peanut butter syrup is heating, spray a large bowl with cooking spray before adding the rice cereal. Pour the ooey gooey peanut butter syrup over the cereal and combine until all of the rice crispies are evenly coated (you may have to work it a little).
Transfer crispies into an 8x8-baking dish (like a Pyrex) that has been lightly coated with non-stick cooking spray. Pat them down and make them nice and even, pop in the fridge about an hour or so, then cut em’ up and enjoy!
If you want to add chcolate you have two choices:
Option #1
After you have combined your cereal and you’re syrup, stir in ¼ cup of chocolate chips. Now, you want to be sure that the syrup is not piping hot and has had a few minutes to drop in temperature, because if it is too hot, the chips will melt and look “not so pretty”.
Once the chips are stirred in, place into a pyrex and chill.
Option #2
Once you have chilled your rice crispy treats for about a half hour or so, take a ½ cup of melted chocolate chips (I melt mine in a doubler boiler but you can do a microwave as well) and pour them over the top of the crispies. Spread the chocolate evenly over the top of the crispies.
Pop them back in the fridge and allow the chocolate to set before cutting.
Nutritional Analysis
With the addition of 1/4 cup chocolate chips:Calories: 161; Total Fat: 6.9g; Saturated Fat: 2.1g; Cholesterol: 0mg; Sodium: 10mg; Carbohydrate: 24.1g; Dietary Fiber: 1.7; Sugars: 12.2; Protein: 3.6g
More from Clean & Delicious...
Easy Brown Rice and Black Beans
Rutabaga Mash (and Some Turkey Day Ideas)
Eggs-on-Quick Veggie Brown Rice
Quick-Veggie Brown Rice
Salmon & Veggie Pockets
Other Recipes You May Enjoy:
Banana Oat Muffins
Crunch Topped Apple Oat Bran Muffins
Chocolate Covered Strawberries (video)
Fruit and Flax Smoothie
Chocolate and Peanut Butter Oatmeal
Ok! I admit it. I am NOT a health food nut. But i have to say this is another one of your “healthy” versions I can’t wait to try.
Adding the chocolate chips had me sold. Thank You!!!!!!!!!:)
This looks delicious! I’ll have to try it this wkd.
Thanks!
sara
I love rice crispy treats, but never eat them any more due to diet, so I’m very excited about these. I’ve never seen brown rice cereal, but I’m willing to go searching! I would prefer not to buy brown rice syrup, though — do you think an equal amount of agave nectar would work instead?
Zoe – I’ve never tried them with agave but my guess is that it should work just fine. If you try it, let me know how it goes!
Ooh, I have been craving rice krispie squares (my childhood favourite), but being a vegetarian the traditional ones are no longer suitable. Thanks for sharing, I will give these a try!
Moira – Your welcome:)!! I think you’ll really like them!
Hi,
I tried with the agave, but it doesn’t bind the square together, so the whole thing falls apart. So, it would have to be made with agave and something else to bind it. If anyone has any ideas, please post!!
Thanks
There is a recipe I saw made on TV (Food channel) very similar only using honey instead of the rice syrup.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_198977,00.html
I have been searching all over for crispy brown rice cereal. Do you know what brand you purchased for this recipe? Is it something I would find at a store like Whole Foods, or do I need to try more specialized stores? I was able to locate the brown rice syrup at Fred Meyer in the natural foods aisle. Thanks so much!
Erin – I used a brand named Erewhon that I bought at Whole Foods.
These came out really yummy! I bought the Erewhon brand at Wegmans (East coast grocery). This was super easy and tastes really good without all the fat from the original recipes. It’s hard not to eat them all right away!
Maggie – So glad you liked them! And believe me… I agree, it is hard not to eat them all right away:).
I make them without the peanut butter and they are good as well. Just in case you are like me and you are not crazy about peanut butter taste.
I rarely make rice crispy treats (the original way) — because I try to avoid their unhealthy nature. But, my kids love them, so it is a sometimes treat that I then feel guilty about giving them… Will have to give this healthier recipe a try, thanks for sharing!
I have been craving a “Rice Crispy-like treat. This looks fabulous. With my diet I can no longer eat things I used to. I prefer the healthier route, as well.
Maria – did you alter the recipe at all to make the peanut butter free version – or just leave out the peanut butter? I’m allergic to peanuts and could substitute, but I would like to try it without.
Thanks!!!
I found your site a week or so ago searching for healthy rice crispy treats and these are awesome!!! I have made them 4 times this week. I used agave instead of brown rice syrup and added the chocolate chips. So, so yummy! I can’t wait to try more of your recipes.
Thank You!!
Great recipe! I have been looking for a version of these that wasn’t so sweet. These are great porportions too. It’s not too wet or dry. I made a couple of modifications: I used almond butter and a touch of coconut oil to help the almond butter flow a little better, a pinch of salt, because the almond butter is raw and unsalted, and upped the amount of vanilla because I just got some amazing new rum vanilla that has rocked my world. I am going to add a touch of ganache on top once they’ve cooled. I have found that melted chocolate chips and a bit of scalded unsweetened coconut milk makes an amazing, not too sweet ganache. Thanks so much for the inspiration!
I love this recipe! I didn’t do the chocolate chips, but raisins instead, and my daughter LOVED them! I did too. They are great for lunchboxes or afternoon snacks. Kudos!
-Sylvia
these bars rock !! I have made them before, everytime they are a huge hit ! I usually spread the choc on top..
lost the recipe and found this same one that I used last time.. If you like rice crispy treats, try this healthier
version.. you will be sold !!
Laura
LOVE this recipe! I made them this weekend for a bachelorette party and they were a huge hit! I used honey instead of brown rice syrup because that’s what I had on hand and it worked great. I also melted semi-sweet dark chocolate chips and spread a thin coat on top. Delicious. Thanks for the recipe. Love the blog.