I’m always looking for portable snacks and treats to help keep us going a little longer, whether at school, work, travel, or play. Here’s a light, sweet, gluten-free snack that’s easy to pack. If you like breakfast bars that are made of light, puffed rice and other gluten-free grains, this recipe is for you. And if you eat grain-free, the gluten-free puffed grains can easily be subbed with other great stuff.
The freeze-dried raspberries really give this treat a sweet, tangy flavor, and the pistachios add an additional texture to the raspberries and puffed rice. I found the freeze-dried raspberries at Trader Joe’s, and you can also order them online from places like Honeyville Grain.
I’m not a big grain-eater, even the gluten-free kind, but I do occasionally have some rice or quinoa, and a bit of corn every so often. If you’re strictly grain-free (or on SCD) you can easily substitute the puffed grain with an the equivalent amount of nuts, seeds, dried and freeze-dried fruit to make a grain-free version of this treat.
Comfy Belly
Raspberry Rice Crispy Treats
Updated on 2/10/2013: changed honey from 1/3 to 1/2 cup.Ingredients (makes about 8 rectangular treats)
- 1/2 cup of honey (or maple syrup)
2 tablespoons of unsalted butter- 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt
- 3 cups of puffed brown rice and millet (I use Nature’s Path)
- 1/4 cup of freeze-dried raspberries pieces (I used Trader Joe’s brand)
- 1/4 cup of toasted pistachio pieces (optional)
Method
- In an oven preheated to 350°F/175°C, spread out and toast the rice and millet on a baking sheet for 15 minutes.
- Add the honey, butter, vanilla, and salt to a large saucepan (big enough to also hold the rice and millet), and bring to a low boil and then simmer. Simmer for about 5 minutes, or until the mixture it getting slightly darker. It’s OK for it to bubble and brown a bit, but avoid burning it.
- Cool the honey mixture for a minute or so and then add the rice, millet, raspberries and pistachios. Blend until well-coated.
- Scoop the mixture into a baking dish (I use a square 8 inch x 8 inch baking dish) lined with parchment paper or other non-stick surface.
- Using another piece of parchment paper and your hands, press down on the mixture to compact it as much as possible.
- Let it cool, and then slice into squares or rectangles.
- I store them in a sealed container or wrap well to seal out air.
- Snack accordingly.
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This recipe looks amazing!! I don’t have any cereal but do you think popcorn might work? Thanks!
The popcorn idea sounds great!
How gorgeous! Clearly, I need to make a trip to the US so I can get Trader Joe’s dried raspberries!
These look amazing and I’m so excited that they’re marshmallow free! (I don’t eat gelatin). Heading to Trader Joe’s this afternoon…will keep my eye out for freeze-dried raspberries
Do you think these would freeze/thaw well?
Thanks!!
Kristy
not sure. sealing them tight is the best defense though, regardless if you freeze them.
These look so pretty not to mention tasty!
Made these this morning – YUM! Didn’t have the cereal called for so used Erewhon Crispy Brown Rice (GF) and they turned out AWESOME! Better than any rice crispy treat I’ve ever had! Thanks for the great idea! May have to try them with other TJ’s crunchy fruit too!
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Hi there, I made these and they are fantastic. I did find them a wee bit dry compared to regular rice crispy treats. I would increase the liquid but worry that it would be too sweet. I’d love to hear what other people think. Thx!
yes, with the marshmallow rice crispy treats using the cereal, butter is added. I’ve been thinking about trying some oil or butter, I just haven’t done so yet.
I used coconut oil in place of the unsalted butter since we don’t do dairy, and it was delicious. I think I just had to get past comparing them to the typical rice crispy square. These are far better, and don’t leave hands sticky. Do you ever use different fruit? I was at TJ’s yesterday and picked up the freeze dried blueberries, strawberries and bananas to try different variations. Thanks for a great recipe!
Great idea using coconut oil. I haven’t tried another fruit. I have the freeze-dried blueberries but they didn’t taste good to me, even on their own, so I didn’t add them. I bet the bananas and strawberries will be excellent.
I substituted light agave syrup for the honey 1/3cup, 1 tablespoon organic coconut oil for the butter, whole foods dried blueberries in place of raspberries, added a handful of finely shredded coconut- they came out Yummy. I also used the Erewhon Crispy Rice Cereal.
We made these using dried strawberries and bananas from Target. They froze well, but were a little crumbly. Next time, we are going to try pressing them into silicon baking cups. Thanks for another great recipe!
These look great. Is the puffed brown rice SCD legal?
no sorry – it’s not. Thanks for the correction!
Just got some freeze dried fruit and am looking for ways to use it, this is so creative!
LOVE this recipe and so does my son who is on the Modified Atkins dietary protocol to control seizures. We also love your site and recipes even more b/c we live in Sammamish!
Back to food, the past few times I’ve made the recipe, they look great in the pan but then crumble whenI go to cut them. I use Agave in place of honey…any suggestions on what I’m doing wrong? BTW – we love to eat it kind of like cereal when it falls apart – no waste here!
thanks! a Sammamish reader! Yes, I haven’t made these in a while, and yes, they did crumble on me a bit. I remember that I increased the oil and honey a bit and that worked. I’ll add a note and try them again some time soon.
Just a quick fyi – I tried these this morning with 4 tablespoons of butter and pressed firmly, and they stuck together well. I suspect 1/2 cup of honey and 1/4 cup of butter/oil is the way to go. I’ll update it again soon.
Yet another update. I made a quick batch again but I baked them for about 7 minutes at 350 degrees F after pressing them into the baking dish, and, they stayed together quite well. I need to update this when I get a moment (which is unlikely for a few weeks). I’m not quite sure what to make of this, but more testing is in order for sure.