Before I post the pictures and recipe, let me tell you.. I found that these are so GOOD, but very gooey, so they keep best in the freezer! I (well my husband actually did this for me) put them in individual baggies and then into one freezer bag so that I could just grab one out when ever. Now I find myself throwing them into a thermal tote to keep them cool when I know I will be out for a while! (usually a clementine, apple or some other fruit goes in the bag as well!)
Here is the Original Recipe: I will not what I did differently as well!
you will need a large mixing bowl, a slightly oiled spatula, a 9x9x2 (i used a 9x13) inch pan, plastic wrap and the following ingredients.. (Next time I will probably line the pan with wax paper and then pull it out onto a cutting board, it should make removal much easier!)
-1 cup of hulled raw pumpkin seeds (I just got a cups worth from he bulk section at Earthfare, and I will buy much more next time they are so good plain!) $6.49 a pound so it was about $1.88 for that
-1/2 cup of coco rice cereal
-1/2 cup of plain rice cereal (I could not find the coco so I did 1 cup of plain rice) I found this down low in a big bag that said "Cereal, Puffed Rice" for $1.99 and I have enough for a few more batches!
-1/4 cup of uncooked Quinoa, you can find this in the rice section but I found it in the bulk section as well. it was $3.69 a pound and I got enough for a few batches total I paid was $2.10
-1/4 cup hulled hemp seed, this was not in the bulk section so I got a good size bag (it will last a while) $7.49
-1/4 cup shredded coconut, this was unsweetened in a bag and earthfare brand. I LOVE coconut so I actually added about 1/2 a cup.. And I have plenty left over (actually I have been putting it in smoothies and pancakes!) $2.79
-1/4 cups of mini chocolate chips (Enjoy Life Brand- they are allergy free!) I also put 1/2 a cup of chocolate chips in!! Love the Enjoy Life chocolate, it taste just like real chocolate chips! And I have been putting these in pancakes as well! $4.99 a bag, but a bag will go a long way.
-1/4 cup of Crunchy Sunbutter this I already had but creamy, however I was getting low. I went to buy more and realized Earthfare has it in their brand. $4.99 and I used much more than 1/4 cup.. I really don't know how much I used.. maybe 1/2 a cup.. I like the sunbutter a lot so it just added more flavor and helped the bars stick!
-3/4 cup brown rice syrup I used 3/4 cup of light Karo syrup.. It worked perfectly and I already had it in the cabinet.
-begin by adding all the ingredients together EXCEPT SUNBUTTER mix it all up using your oiled spatula.
-Press half the mixture firmly into your pan (again I used a bigger pan and I had oiled the pan, but next time will use wax paper)
-then spread the SUNBUTTER over the mixture. (you don't have to use sunbutter but it is super good)
-then press the remaining mixture firmly on top of the sunbutter
-cover with plastic wrap and stick in the freezer for about an hour
-remove and cut into bars. if you use a 9x9 cut in half across then cut into 5 even piece going the opposite way making 10 bars..
i made them thinner by using the 9x13 and jut cut them into smaller squares as well. I really didn't put much thought into how I cut them, and sometimes I don't want a lot, and other times I may grab two bars out! Once put them into little snack bags or sandwich bags or whatever.. and then put into one big freezer bag. store in the freezer!
my husband says they look like bird suet, but liked them! The kids loved them as well! And I have gave then to a few friends to try and they also loved them!
everything mixed then add the Karo
Notice I ate one of them before taking the picture!
