June 25, 2012

What was the first recipe you learned how to make? If we remove cinnamon toast from the running, I think mine was Rice Krispie Treats. Like most kids, I loved those cereal bars and learning how to make them on my own was pretty exciting--especially the part where you melted marshmallows!

Today I see cereal bars for what they really are: no-bake cookie bars. They're perfect when you want something sweet and crunchy but don't want to turn on the oven.

Like most cereal bars, they're nothing fancy. The recipe uses two types of gluten-free cereal, crunchy "bake-dried" apples and chewy dried cherries plus ground flax seeds. When I mentioned to a friend that the recipe contained flax she said, "Good! I can think of this as health food!" I reminded her that these are cereal bars, not health bars. I just add the flax because I like the flavor.

Ingredient Notes:

Cereal

If you can't find Glutino's Apple and Cinnamon Rings, use any gluten-free "o" cereal (such as Nature's Path Whole O's) and add 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the recipe.

Bake-Dried Apples

If you can't find bake-dried apples (I use Bare Fruit), use dried apple rings. Chop the dried apple rings into bite-size pieces before using.

4.5 ounces (3 cups) gluten-free apple and cinnamon rings cereal

4.5 ounces (3 cups) gluten-free crisp rice cereal

3 ounces (3/4 cup) dried cherries, finely chopped

1 ounce (1 cup) bake-dried apple chips, finely chopped

2 tablespoons ground flaxseed meal

2 ounces butter or shortening

1 (10 ounce) bag marshmallows

non-stick gluten-free cooking spray

1. Lightly grease 9x13-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

    

2. In large bowl, toss together cereals, dried cherries, apple chips, and ground flaxseed meal.

    

3. In large pot, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add marshmallows. Stir constantly with wooden spoon until marshmallows are melted and smooth. Add cereal mixture. Stir quickly to coat cereal with melted marshmallows. Transfer mixture to prepared pan. Using your hands or a piece of parchment paper, pat mixture down evenly into pan. Chill two hours or overnight. Cut into 14 bars.