Ok, so these aren’t JUST like rice krispie squares, and I don’t have a picture to show you because, well… they were all eaten too fast for me to take one! I promise I will add one as soon as I make them again, which I’m sure won’t be very long. They may be closer to a puffed wheat square – with a little chocolate twist. All I can say is everyone here absolutely loved them. 🙂
What makes these squares oh-so-much better than the other ones?
No refined sugar!
- Refined sugar reduces your child immune system for hours after he/she eats it. Back to school typically means lots of bugs going around. Give them a head start by reducing their sugar.
- I’m sorry to tell you this, but your rice krispies are processed and refined. Using puffed brown rice instead means more fiber, and nutrients in your child’s body.
- Sunbutter {made from sunflower seeds} is a great protein source. Protein is BRAIN FOOD for your child – and who doesn’t need brain food when they are in school?! The other bonus here is that it is nut-free, which means you can send them in your child’s lunch, even if the school is nut free.
- There usually isn’t any protein in the ‘other squares’ at all.
Try it yourself, but don’t expect the marshmallow – there isn’t any of that here. And your child’s body {and yours} will thank you for that.
Nut Free Cereal Squares
Ingredients
Olive oil or coconut oil to grease the pan
1/3 cup Sunbutter {sunflower seed butter} – any variety {you can usually find this in Superstore in the Natural Foods Section}
½ cup honey
2 tablespoons butter or coconut oil
3 cups puffed brown rice cereal {found in the Natural Foods Section of your grocery stores}
1 cup dried tart cherries {optional}
1 cup dried apricots, chopped {optional} I took both the cherries and apricots out and used about 1/2 cup of gogi berries instead – experiment with this!
1 ¼ cups pumpkin seeds
¼ cup sunflower seeds
3.5 ounces (about ½ cup when chopped) dark chocolate, chopped or use chocolate chips
Directions
Grease 8×8 pan with oil. Line the dish with two pieces of plastic wrap making sure the wrap hangs over the edges by a couple inches.
In a small sauce pan combine the Sunbutter, honey and butter or coconut oil and heat, stirring occasionally, until melted and fully combined.
In a large mixing bowl combine the cereal, apricots, cherries, chocolate and seeds. Add the Sunbutter mixture and stir until well coated. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with another piece of plastic wrap and press the mixture down really firmly. Refrigerate for at least one hour.
Remove the top layer of plastic wrap and using the overhanging pieces, remove the mixture from the dish and place on a cutting board. With a sharp knife cut the mixture into quarters and then cut each quarter into quarters.
The cereal squares can be made up to a week ahead, store in the refrigerator between sheets of waxed paper.
