*this recipe has been updated from 2007
Today we are leveling-up brown rice crispy treats. These Brown Rice Crispy Treats are a higher-quality version of the original (no refined sugars and no marshmallows!).
Instead they use brown rice crispy cereal, brown rice syrup, peanut butter (or any nut butter), and vanilla… that’s it.
And the best part is, they are just as easy to make as the original recipe. #winwin
You can certainly enjoy them without the chocolate chips but in our house, everyone agrees that a sprinkle of mini chocolate chips makes them even better.
Brown Rice Crispy Treats
Yield: Makes 9 squares
Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:5 minutes
Total Time:15 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of all natural crunchy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup of brown rice syrup
- 4 cups of brown rice crispy cereal
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup of chocolate chips, (optional)
Directions:
- Mix peanut butter, rice syrup, and vanilla and heat over a low heat in a small sauce pan until the mixture becomes warm and syrup (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 ooey gooey peanut butter syrup over the cereal and combine until all of the rice cereal is evenly coated.
- Transfer brown rice into an 8x8-baking dish 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!
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
kacee
December 11, 2007 at 5:54 amOk! 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!!!!!!!!!:)
Silversara
February 1, 2008 at 3:30 pmThis looks delicious! I’ll have to try it this wkd.
Thanks!
sara
Zoe
February 11, 2008 at 5:58 pmI 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?
Dani
February 11, 2008 at 6:43 pmZoe – 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!
Moira
May 21, 2008 at 5:09 pmOoh, 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!
Dani
May 22, 2008 at 7:30 amMoira – Your welcome:)!! I think you’ll really like them!
Buffy Tapps
July 22, 2008 at 2:52 pmHi,
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
Alyson
July 27, 2008 at 2:27 amThere 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
Erin
August 1, 2008 at 5:51 pmI 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!
Dani
August 2, 2008 at 7:30 amErin – I used a brand named Erewhon that I bought at Whole Foods.
Maggie
August 6, 2008 at 4:19 amThese 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!
Dani
August 6, 2008 at 6:27 amMaggie – So glad you liked them! And believe me… I agree, it is hard not to eat them all right away:).
Maria
November 13, 2008 at 11:47 amI 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.
Luncbox Obsessed
February 2, 2009 at 12:33 pmI 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!
Julie
March 21, 2009 at 11:48 pmI 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!!!
Terri
January 22, 2010 at 6:36 pmI 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!!
Erin
February 11, 2010 at 1:53 pmGreat 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!
Top 10 Cigars
February 22, 2010 at 8:44 pmI 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
laura
October 26, 2011 at 5:07 pmthese 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
Ayla Withee @EatSimply
February 1, 2012 at 12:48 pmLOVE 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.
Jeanne
February 21, 2013 at 3:03 pmI googled ‘brown rice krispy bars with rice syrup’, because that’s what I wanted to make….I was even thinking about putting peanut butter in them….so thanks so much for doing all the hard work for me! I dreamt it, you came up with the recipe!
Mai-kee
September 1, 2013 at 1:15 pmHi Dani!
I’d love to try these as I have some puffed brown rice needing to be used! But I don’t have brown rice syrup, is there something else I could substitute it with??
Love your recipes! =D
Dani
September 2, 2013 at 6:01 amYou can probably try some agave or maple syrup. It will change the flavor a bit but at the end of the day they are both liquid sweeteners. With that being said, I have never tried either so I’d be eager to hear what your results are should you try.