Rice syrup can be found in health food stores. It will go a long way. It looks the consistency of honey which may also work.
Ingredients
- 1 and 1/4 cups crisp rice cereal (e.g., Aldi's Crispies)
- 1 cup uncooked quick-cooking oats
- 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed (flaxseed meal)
- 1/4 cup finely chopped dried fruit (e.g., raisins, dried cranberries, dried cherries, etc.)
- 1/4 cup finely chopped nuts or seeds (sunflower seeds, almonds, etc.)
- 1/3 cup brown rice syrup
- 1/2 cup nut butter (preferably natural, well-stirred, but creamy is fine, too)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional: 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Combine the rice cereal, oats, flaxseed meal, dried fruit, and nuts in a large bowl.
- Combine the syrup and nut butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until melted and well-blended (alternatively microwave in small microwave-safe bowl 30-60 seconds until melted). Stir in vanilla until blended.
- Pour nut butter mixture over cereal mixture, stirring until coated (use a wooden spoon at first, then get your hands in it. It will be sticky, but this way you can really coat everything. Just scrape off your hands when you're done). Press mixture firmly into an 8-inch square pan (sprayed with nonstick cooking spray) using a large square of wax paper (really tamp it down). Cool in pan on a wire rack and chill at least 30 minutes to help it set. Cut into 12 bars. (Wrap bars tightly in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator).
Notes
Chocolate Chip Cookie Variation: Replace the dried fruit with an equal amount of semisweet miniature chocolate chips (or carob chips). Combine the cereal mixture with the syrup mixture, then let the combined mixture stand 10 minutes before adding the chips.
Almond-Cranberry Variation: Use chopped cranberries for the dried fruit and chopped almonds for the nuts/seeds. Use either honey or brown rice syrup.
Peanut Butter Cookie Variation: Use chopped dates for the dried fruit and dry roasted peanuts for the nuts. Use honey, or half honey-half molasses for the syrup and peanut butter for the nut butter.
Almond-Cherry Variation: Use chopped dried tart cherries for the fruit and lightly salted roasted almonds for the nuts. Use any crunchy peanut butter, and add 1/4 teaspoon almond extract.
Apple Pie Variation: Use chopped dried apples for the fruit and rice syrup or honey for the syrup. Be sure to add the cinnamon option, and use toasted walnuts or pecans for the nuts.
