"Healthy" Chocolate Crispy Rice Treats (DF, GF, refined sugar free)

Chocolate Crispy Treats

We've been trying to avoid refined sugar and most grains lately, which makes it tough when it's time for a treat.  While these little desserts are not Paleo, nor can they be considered a health food, they do make a nice alternative for those days when you are called upon to bring a treat into school.  Gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free, you can feel a little less guilty sending your children with these!

 These "healthy" crispy rice treats are just as easy to make as their marshmallow-laden counterparts, but they are made with brown rice instead of white (which helps slow down your insulin response) and brown rice syrup instead of corn syrup (it's unrefined and much healthier for your body).  Just two other ingredients round out the mix, and there's no baking or even refrigerating necessary.  How easy is that??  We chose a chocolate rice cereal, but you could certainly do this with regular puffed rice cereal.

Chocolate Crispy Treats

6 cups chocolate rice cereal (made with brown rice)
1 cup brown rice syrup
1 Tbsp coconut spread (a butter substitute)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

In a large stockpot on the stove, melt the coconut spread and brown rice syrup together.  Turn off the heat and add the vanilla.  Stir in the rice cereal until well coated.

Press the mixture into an 8x13" rectangular dish that has been greased with coconut oil, or some of the coconut spread.  Squish down with a spoon (or your fingers) so the cereal reaches every corner and is flat on top.  Let sit until hardened, about 1 hour.  Cut into squares and enjoy.

When storing these, they will stick together if you stack them on top of each other.  Typically, we eat them all on the day they're made, but when they do last longer, we keep them uncovered so they don't get squishy.  They'll get harder each day you keep them.

Shared with Allergy Free Wednesday, Blog Stalking Thursday, and Strut Your STuff.