My local grocery store sells these rice krispie treats topped with Nutella, and they are as amazing as they sound, but you’ll be bouncing off the walls with how much sugar is in them!
I like the combination of flavors though, so I was thinking how could I make a healthier version of them? For starters I do have a couple issues with regular old Rice Krispies cereal – let me elaborate.
The ingredients in Rice Krispies are: rice, sugar, salt, malt flavoring, iron, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), alpha tocopherol acetate (vitamin E), niacinamide, vitamin A palmitate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), riboflavin (vitamin B2),thiamin hydrochloride (vitamin B1), folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin D.
Obviously, the added sugar is less than ideal. But rice, and grains naturally contain vitamins and minerals in abundance, so do you ever wonder why a cereal based on rice, a wholesome, nutrient-dense grain, would need to be fortified with all of those vitamins?
The truth is, the refining process that commercially made cereals undergo strips them of their vitamins and minerals, and most of their natural fiber. Fortification with these synthetic vitamins is less than ideal and those vitamins aren’t always assimilated and used the same way by your body as they are when they are a natural component of the plant.
Rice, and other grains should be sprouted, fermented or soaked overnight for our body to absorb and assimilate the nutrients they contain. You can find these things if you know what to look for. I talk about Ezekial sprouted grain bread a lot for this very reason. Not only is it made from 100% sprouted grains, it doesn’t contain added sugar or additives.
One of the “issues” with gluten (unless you have a true allergy, known as Celiac’s) isn’t always an issue with the gluten protein – though it is a tough to digest protein for our body. Eating it daily can cause gut irritation and inflammation – but a lot of that comes from eating gluten-containing grains that are refined, and un-sprouted. The sprouting – or fermenting, or soaking – process allows for some predigestion of the gluten, which will make it much easier for your body to absorb.
I predict that this deeper knowledge about sprouted grains is going to become more mainstream over the next few years, and you will find some products that are labeled “sprouted grain” but contain a lot of other additives and sugar that defeat the purpose (we’ve seen plenty of gluten free products with this problem). So keep reading your food labels and being a smart consumer.
I found two options when I went to the store, neither of which was perfect but both of which were acceptable for a home-made dessert.
Barbara’s Brown Rice Crisps – which contain organic brown rice, are sweetened with organic fruit juice concentrate, and contain a little sea salt.
One Degree Organic Foods Veganic Sprouted Brown Rice Crisps – which contain organic sprouted brown rice, organic coconut palm sugar, sunflower lecithin, salt and tocopherols.
While I like that the rice is sprouted, I wish they were sweetened with fruit juice like Barbara’s. Either way though, much better options than Rice Krispies. We ARE making a treat, so we will be adding sweetener – my point is control your added sugar as much as you can.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Rice Krispie Treats
Yield: 12 treats
You will need: measuring cups and spoons, spatula, cooking oil spray, 9×9 baking dish, knife, cutting board
2 cups brown rice crisps
1 serving (30 grams) I ❤️ Vanilla Protein Powder
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter)
1/4-1/3 cup dark chocolate (I used 70% dark, or dairy-free dark chocolate like Enjoy Life brand)
1. Coat your spatula with a little cooking oil so it doesn’t stick, then mix everything together.
2. Press it into a 9×9 or 8×8 baking dish (pre-oil).
3. Melt about 1/4-1/3 cup dark chocolate pieces (used 70%) and spread over the top.
4. Chill to set the chocolate, or just cut ’em up and eat them GOOEY like me!!
This took me 5 minutes!!
And while I gotta admit, there is really no substitute for Nutella I’d rather save my crave and have that on an NSA day and not just any old time I want a treat!
So try this super easy, yummy dessert and start looking for sprouted grain products, and learning more about how to prepare your own!
For more information about grains and how to prep them check out:
The Weston Price Foundation: Be Kind to Your Grains
