Who has read The Hunger Games trilogy? Anyone? My mom bought be a nook a few weeks ago, and I took my husband’s suggestion to make The Hunger Games my first nook purchase. That was last Thursday, as in, February 17th. Since then, I’ve literally been glued to my nook during every inch of spare time I can muster. I’ve even deliberately picked longer checkout lines just for an excuse to read for a minute more. I just started the third book, Mockingjay, and expect I’ll encounter the same lack of willpower when it comes to putting it down to go to bed. Thinking about starting this trilogy? If so, don’t plan on being productive or getting much sleep in the next week.
That said, I’m a little glad I can at least covertly — thanks to my nook — be so engrossed in what’s considered a “young adult” series. Am I really turning into the Hunger Games’ version of a “Twihard”? Please let this not be true.
At any rate, at the hands of my newfound obsession, my baking has suffered as well as my sleep. I did, however, manage to break away for a few hours to do Bikram Yoga last night (something I’ve “re-discovered” lately after a few year hiatus), and was craving my usual post-Bikram snack when I realized there was little to work with in the fridge, and I had little energy to make something complicated. I was going to settle on a small bowl of brown rice crisps with soy milk when I realized how boring that sounded. Fifteen minutes later I had created something much more satisfying: my gluten-free, sugar-free, vegan version of a rice krispie treat. Which was perfect, because that’s about all the time I could manage to allow before surrendering to a few more hours of uninterrupted reading.
Yield: about 9 large crispies; 18 small
Coconut Almond Rice Crispy Treats:
4 cups Barbara’s fruit sweetened brown rice crisps
3/4 cup creamy almond butter (not raw)
1/2 cup coconut nectar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup shredded, unsweetened coconut
Directions:
1. Put rice crisps in a large, heat-safe bowl.
2. Heat almond butter, coconut nectar and vanilla in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir. When everything has melted together and become smooth, about 2 minutes, pour over rice crisps and stir to combine and until all of the dry crisps are coated. Add coconut.
3. Press rice crisps into a square, parchment-lined baking dish (8×8 or 9×9 is fine). Press firmly to smooth over the top and shape treats into dish. Chill in refrigerator for a few hours, or until set.
Yum! I bought some of these crisps with the intent to make a square like this. What is coconut nectar? Would love to try them! And, yes, I have read the trilogy too. What will we be called? Mockinghards? Who knows! Such a good series. Did you know that it’s being made into a movie? Are you team Gale or team Peeta?
Maggie recently posted..Chocolate Peanut Power Bars
Those look delicious. I second the question of Maggie’s though. Is coconut nectar the same thing as coconut butter?
Christine @ Nourish the Budding Lotus recently posted..Fig Hazelnut Chocolate Cookies
Maggie — Mockinghards? Hungerhards? Whatever it is, I am definitely a member of the club! : ) Coconut nectar is low glycemic, more viscousy and syrupy than agave — sort of like a low glycemic version of brown rice syrup. Perfect for something like these treats where you need them to stick together. I will provide a link to it within the recipe. Oh, and I am DEFINITELY team Peeta. You?
Christine — thanks! See above re: coconut nectar : )
Wow, Beth, those rice krispy treats look like sheer perfection! I’m not familiar with your series, but I’m listening to the Outlander series right now and welcome any time in my car. I’ve been known to sit in my car in the driveway after arriving home just to finish the end of a section.
xo,
Shirley
Shirley @ gfe recently posted..Suite of Sweets—Free For All Cooking with Coffee Cake
These look outstanding!!!! I love how you take a typical “normal” recipe (the kind I made long ago and have since stopped making) and make it safe for us to eat! And delicious too!
These look wonderful!
Valerie @ City|Life|Eats recently posted..Today’s Lunchbox Chard Rolls
Yum yum, these little treats look amazing! Coconut nectar is a great product!
I made these today for my son who has a ton of food allergies (milk,soy,eggs,peanuts,sesame,fish,chicken,beef,beans..) and I always have a hard time finding good and delicious recipes and this was a huge hit!!! I can’t stop eating them myself. I didn’t have the coconut nectar but used the regular nectar and it was delicious.
Mag — Wow, I am so glad to hear that! Did they stick together alright without coconut nectar? I was unsure if they would, but if you liked them, that’s all that matters, I guess! : )
Wow, I love finding new twists on rice krispie treats. These sound so tasty. I have a sweet treat linky party going on at my blog until tomorrow night and I’d like to invite you to stop by and link your treats up. http://sweet-as-sugar-cookies.blogspot.com/2011/02/sweets-for-saturday-6.html
Bet- yes. No problem with sticking. I did use a bit extra almond butter so there was that extra stickiness to work with. i can’t wait to make them again.
mag recently posted..Fish- Chicken- Beef- Beans- Avocados
“BETH” not Bet. sorry!
mag recently posted..Fish- Chicken- Beef- Beans- Avocados
ooo I’ve been looking to make a healthier rice bar as a treat – this looks like just the thing!
Yummie,…these tasty crispy treats look amazing & irresistable too!
So easy to make as well!
Sophie recently posted..Marinated veal escalopes with a sweet potato mash and rosemary scented carrots
I was looking for something to use with my millet puffs (instead of the brown rice) and these turned out great! I also used agave instead of coconut and they turned out great.
Wendy — great! I’m so happy to hear that those changes worked. I have an old bag of millet puffs that I’ve been needing to get rid of myself…