This Clean Eating Rice Krispy Recipe is a healthier remake of the store bought ones. Made from 4 whole food ingredients so you know exactly what's going into them.
It's not too surprising that this clean eating rice bubble slice is one of the most popular recipes on my blog. I'm a Mom too, so I understand why. Our kids love these babies!
Fair enough.
The store bought rice krispie treats are so super sweet and sticky - everything a child's heart desires. And when 'everyone else at school' (don't you just love this one) is getting them in their lunchbox, it's hard to be that Mom that says 'No' to to them.
A couple of years ago, I would have stocked up at the two for one sale at the supermarket ... that is ... until I started reading ingredient labels. That's a whole other issue to keep you up at night.
A Treat is a Sometimes Food. Not an Everyday Food.
While these rice bubble treats are a home run in my home with both the big and little kids - you're never too old for Rice Bubble Slice - it's not something I make all the time.
This is a treat food, not an Everyday food. I will make a batch once or twice a month at most.
It's not that I'm against eating sugar. I'm not.
We aren't a family that has done the whole quit sugar thing (you can read more on that here), but we do see sugar treats as a 'sometimes food'.
Sugar has been sneakily added to most processed foods available in Supermarkets today. And I do mean sneakily. Supposedly 'healthy' foods like breakfast cereals, yogurts and fruit juices are packed full of sugar. An average person (child or adult) is eating upwards of 20 - 30 teaspoons of sugar a day without even knowing it!
The Sugar Issue
I know sugar is getting knocked from all corners right now. And I agree - too much sugar is bad for you. That's not rocket science.
But its also not a tragedy if you let it slide every now and again.
Childhood wouldn't be the same without the odd sweetened treat. I think it's more important that we teach our children to eat sugar responsibly rather than banning sugar from their diet completely.
Most sugars are pretty 'Clean' in the sense that they are pretty close to their natural state without additives or infinite processing. But just because it's a Whole food Ingredient, it doesn't mean you should be eating it without some good old common sense and caution.
Honey, Raw Cane Sugar, Maple Syrup, Coconut Sugar, Fruit sugar and Brown Rice Syrup - No matter where it comes from, it's still all sugar so should be eaten as a 'treat'.
Why I use Brown Rice Syrup to Make my Rice Krispie Treats
In a very compact science nutshell, most sugar we eat is made up of two molecules - Glucose and Fructose. Our bodies deal with Glucose quite effectively, but Fructose is a whole other issue (read more on that here). If you are up for a little light reading, I really, really recommend you get David Gillespie's book on How Sugar Makes us Fat. It's easy to read, and one of the best books I've read on the scary effects of too much Sugar.
Brown Rice Syrup is one of those exceptions. It's a sweetener that doesn't contain fructose. It's not as sweet as our standard Clean Eating go to Sugars (like honey, maple syrup), but it works well without the high fructose kick.
Get the Ingredients for this Clean Eating Rice Krispie Recipe
The Recipe
Clean Eating Rice Bubble Slice
Ingredients
- 4 cups of Puffed Rice - Make sure the only ingredient is rice or brown rice, I got mine from the health section of my supermarket.
- 1 cup Brown Rice Syrup
- ½ cup butter
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla Paste OPTIONAL
Instructions
- Line a small slice tray with baking paper.
- In a small saucepan (non stick if possible) heat up the brown rice syrup and butter. Simmer for a two minutes, stirring the entire time.
- Add Rice bubbles to a large mixing bowl and pour Syrup mix over the top. Mix together well. You can add the Vanilla at this stage for a more Vanilla tasting slice. (like the store bought variety :)
- Spread the Mix out onto the baking tray and press down to flatten in the tray. Rice bubbles should be firmly compressed into the pan as this gives your slice more structure later on.
- Place in Fridge (or freezer) until firm, then cut into snack size squares.
Notes
- If you are packing it for school, make sure the lunch box is chilled or the slice may get a little bit melted and sticky.
- This slice will set very firm when cool and remain quite in shape when out of the fridge
- Store in an airtight container in fridge or the freezer if you are packing in a school lunch.
