Rice Krispie Treats

I was never a fan of rice krispie treats as a kid.  Sure I would have one now and again but I never loved them, and that was simply because there wasn't any chocolate in them. True confession.  If the traditional rice krispie treats had been smothered in chocolate I am sure I would have loved them.  My husband on the other had loved rice krispie treats as a kid (and still as an adult).  I was going through a few of my cookbooks trying to come up with some fresh dinner ideas and I stumbled across a new snack idea instead.  Gotta love when that happens! I found the recipe in the "The Cleaner Plate Club" cookbook.

I remembered a similar recipe that my friend Heather shared in a cooking class once, so I adapted and adjusted a bit.  The following recipe is what I came up with and it was a total hit.  Everyone was begging for more and I felt like it was a good healthier twist on a very traditional treat.  Now you won't want to take these to your next family reunion announcing they are the best rice krispie treats ever (even though they are!).  They don't taste like the traditional version but that version has a lot of indgredients I don't really want to use.  So it's not a replica recipe but think of it more as a new twist and a fun snack.  My girls actually got really mad at my husband because he took these to work the next day to finish them off and my girls just could not believe that he would do such a thing.  When I told him that evening how mad they were he had no remorse.  He knew if they stayed home he wouldn't get anymore.  It's certainly a recipe we will be making again!

Rice Krispie Treats

• 5 cups puffed rice (sold at Health food stores and Meijer)

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter (or other nut/seed butter)

• 3/4-1 cup brown rice syrup (depends how sweet you want them)(also found at Health Stores and several local grocery stores).

• 1/4 cup chia seeds or chopped nuts/seeds (I like to add extra protein)

• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Heat peanut butter and brown rice syrup on low until it is smooth.  Poor over puffed rice and chia seeds and/or chopped nuts/seeds.  
I added chocolate chips on top and just sort of pressed them down into the mixture so they melted slightly.  
Spread in a 9x13 parchment paper lined dish.  Put in the freezer for 30 minutes and then cut and enjoy!