Healthy Rice Crispy Treats are a no bake crunchy sweet treat that is gluten free and dairy free. Simple and fun to make the perfect family fun recipe without all the preservatives.
Sometimes we need a sweet gooey treat! Well, I do at least. I like to have one that satisfies without too much guilt. My Mom use to make rice crispy treats as a special treat when I was a girl growing up, so I have an affinity for the crunchy gooey classic. However, I now know that those marshmallows…. not so good for the ol’ body. I wanted to come up with a recipe that gave me the crunch and gooeyness with a bit of healthy combined in there.
These bars have brown rice crispies and oatmeal with dried fruit, chia seeds and almond butter and honey. Because they are not cooked there is not a binder so the bars are best kept cold so that they hold their shape better. Though my husband like them at room temperature because of they were more gooey, whatever makes the guy happy. I actually liked them cold. You can substitute whatever dried fruit is your favorite, I choose the cherries for their antioxidant punch, but dried blueberries or cranberries would work just as well.
I have also made these bars with a chocolate drizzle on top because mama likes everything better with chocolate, but the guys preferred them without. Men are from Mars…I mean chocolate makes everything better!
- [br][b]Bars:[/b]
- 2 cups rolled oats (gluten free)
- 1 1/2 cup brown rice krispies
- 1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1/4 cup whole roasted almonds, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup peanut butter or almond butter
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 (rounded) cup fresh blueberries or 3/4 cup dried blueberries
- [br][b]Dark Chocolate Glaze:[/b]
- 1/2 cup enjoy life semi sweet chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup coconut cream
- Line an 9×13 square pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl combine the oats, rice krispies, coconut, almonds, chia seeds and salt. Mix together.
- In a small microwave safe bowl combine the almond butter and honey. Microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until the mixture is hot and pourable. Add the vanilla and mix again.
- Add the honey mixture to the dry oat mixture and mix until everything is moist and combined. Gently stir in the cherries. Press the mixture into the prepared pan and then using the back of a measuring cup press the mixture into the pan until it is tightly packed. Cover and place in the freezer for 1 hour.
- Dark Chocolate Glaze
- In a small bowl, combine chocolate chips and 1/4 cup of coconut cream and microwave for one minute. Stir until completely melted.
- Drizzle back and forth on top of bars and return to the freezer.
- Cut into 9-12 bars
- Once the bars are completely dry, store in an airtight container at room temperature.
If you like this recipe, you might also like:
Oatmeal Superfood Breakfast Bars
Apricots with Goat Cheese and Almond
Spring Mix Salad Recipe with Blueberry Pistachio and Champagne Dressing
Italian Almond Pear Cake
Banana Peanut Butter Protein Muffins
I absolutely love the changes you made to make rice crispy treats healthy. They are usually loaded with sugar. I cannot wait to try these.
Thanks Christie, the almond butter and honey mix gives it a great sweet healthy flavor in place of the marshmellows. Hope you enjoy!
I’d like them with a drizzle of chocolate too! Who doesn’t like chocolate?! haha! Great recipe!
I love the idea of healthy rice crispy treats because regular rice crispy treats are usually too sweet for me. The addition of the blueberries and dark chocolate glaze is perfect!
I could swoon over the photo with the chocolate drizzle, it’s perfect!
My first mission is to locate brown crisped rice…and then to make these. I love everything in them, and would actually prefer them to the originals!
You can find it in the organic cereal section in most grocery stores. Hope you enjoy the recipe Heather!
I love that you made these without marshmallows. Chocolate on mine for sure!
Everything is better with chocolate!
These are healthy! Oh I must try!
Hope you enjoy the recipe Nancy!
I couldn’t agree more…yes we all need sweet treats every now and then. While my craving may come more often than others, I need these kinda treats around to cure those cravings!
Oh those cravings for sweet treats Meg, it is my weakness. Thanks for stopping by!
I love that you found a way to make rice crispy treats more adult like and healthier. I’m always on the lookout for treats without all the added sugar. I bet these also would taste great crumbled up on top of yogurt for some extra texture.
Thanks Lynn, my 20 year old came home from college and ate most of the bars, so that a second batch needed to be made. Yes, this would be great on yogurt or cottage cheese.
I remember when I was ADDICTED to rice crispies!! UHHH SO GOOD!
These are great! Instead of the almonds I substituted the chocolate covered sunflower seeds from Trader Joes that are colorful and just omitted the chocolate drizzle and they came out great!
That sounds like a pretty awesome substitute. I will have to check out those sunflower seeds, they sound delicious.