February 11, 2010

Valentine’s Day is in a few days, and I wanted to share an idea/recipe for some healthy, fun treats the kids love.  I’ve made them the last few years including this year; however, because Jackson’s school is peanut-free, we will only be enjoying them at home this year.

They are the same basic idea as a Rice Crispy Treat–cereal stuck together with a sticky mixture–but made with honey and whole grain cereal.  Here’s the recipe.

Valentine Cereal Bars

6 cups Kashi Heart-to-Heart cereal

3/4 cup dried cranberries (or any dried fruit; I like cranberries because they’re red for Valentine’s)

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup natural peanut butter

Pinch of salt

In a large bowl, stir cereal and fruit together.

Heat honey and peanut butter together in microwave until melted enough to stir together (like the consistency of pancake batter).  Mix together completely.  Stir in salt.

Pour the honey/peanut butter mixture over the cereal/fruit mixture and stir together thoroughly, coating the cereal mixture well.

Dump onto a parchment lined sheet pan.  Cover with another sheet of parchment and press mixture down into an even layer (Really put your weight behind this and press down as much as you can.  The more compacted it is, the better the bars will hold together.  I actually put another sheet pan on top of the top layer of parchment and squeeze the two pans together). 

Stick into the freezer for 20 minutes.  Remove from freezer, remove top layer of parchment and cut into bars.  Store in the fridge to keep them firm.

The bars are reminiscent of Rice Crispy Treats, like I said, but with honey, a natural sweetener, and a lot more heart-healthy fiber.  Perfect for Valentine’s Day!  Plus, the Kashi cereal has cute little heart-shaped cereal bits in it.  So cute and so yummy!