Crisped rice treats without the cloying marshmallow? Sweet.
Whether you are someone who finds classic crispy rice treats irresistible (my daughter), or someone who would much rather a piece of dark chocolate for dessert (me), this recipe will satisfy on all fronts.
Like the childhood favorite, these are homey squares of crispy rice cereal held together with sweet gooeyness. But here the sticky, rich coating doesn't come from melted marshmallows and butter. It is from a better-for-you and more deeply flavorful yet comfortably familiar blend of honey and peanut butter. Plus, these are made with whole-grain, rather than refined, rice cereal.
The treats are sweet enough that my daughter lunges at them enthusiastically for dessert and thanks me profusely for making them, and because they do not have the typical cloying sweetness, I enjoy them as well. I've used dark chocolate chips here, but they are also wonderful with chewy dried fruit in addition or instead.
• Ellie Krieger is a registered dietitian, nutritionist and author who hosts public television's “Ellie's Real Good Food.” She blogs and offers a weekly newsletter at www.elliekrieger.com.