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[Aember]

Organic Cereal Bars
Serves 12.

These are similar to the Honey Nut Cheerios Bars, only better! I also made these with Envirokids' Koala Crisp Cereal, which is like organic Cocoa Krispies. :-) I used brown rice syrup, which has a lower glycemic index than corn syrup because it has some glucose that's absorbed quickly, followed by a much slower & sustained absorption of complex carbs. My kids tend to get hypoglycemic easily & this has enough protein, fat, & complex carb to keep their energy up & not give them a crash. They are very easy & something you can throw together the night before for a class snack or bake sale. You need is a pot, a heat-safe spoon, a big bowl to mix in, & a ~9x13" pan. I like to line my pan with unbleached parchment paper for ease of release. I have been freezing them after cutting so they can be popped right out for a quick fresh breakfast before or on the way to school. They thaw pretty fast at room temp but keep their shape. These taste sooo dang good!

The recipe for the bars is based on one on Cooks.com, modified for ingredients & amounts. The recipe for the milk icing is modified for ingredients & amounts from recipe #38630 on Recipezaar.com.

I think vegans would be perfectly happy without the milk icing, or maybe could make it with powdered soy milk & soy margarine (or a similar vegan alternative). I have not tried that. The bars alone are awesome.


organic brown rice syrup
organic raw sugar (for bars)
vanilla extract
salt
organic peanut butter
organic plain oat "O"s cereal, OR
organic cocoa rice crisps cereal
organic raw sugar (for icing)
organic butter
natural powdered nonfat milk
vanilla extract
hot tap water
Heat the 3/4 c sugar, vanilla, salt, and syrup in a pot over medium heat until boiling and sugar is well combined, not crystalline. Remove from heat and stir the peanut butter in, stirring until it has melted in & the mixture is smooth but not too cool or becoming thicker.

While the syrup mixture is heating, have the cereal ready in a large bowl. It may help to oil your hands with a vegetable oil a little bit to help keep the cereal mixture from sticking to you. When the syrup mixture is smooth, pour it over the cereal in the bowl & quickly fold all the cereal until it is evenly coated (it will clump). Pack this firmly and evenly into a parchment-lined pan approximately 9 x 13 inches, making sure to get into the corners. Cool for 30 minutes.

While the bars are cooling, cream together the butter & sugar reserved for the icing until smooth using a mixer. Add dry milk slowly to combine. Add water until easy to spread. Spread on the cooled cereal bars & refrigerate 15 minutes before cutting into about 12 bars.


Keywords: Breakfast, Vegetarian, Snack, Brownies/Bars, Dessert, American, Easy, Healthy Choices

( RG2142 )