Gluten-Free Rice Treats

No-bake treats are a great do-it-yourself kitchen activity for kids. I still remember the powder sugar coated no-bake cookie balls I used to make from the Betty Crocker for Kids cookbook when I was growing up. I felt like such a gourmet chef! A while back, a friend served up these tasty rice treats for a snack while our kids were playing, and it became an instant favorite. Basically, you take puffed rice and stir in nut butter, sweetener, seeds, raisins, chocolate chips, and whatever strikes your fancy. Roll them up, put them in the freezer (or just out on the back porch in cold weather) and you’ve got a yummy and fairly healthy homemade treat.

So, here’s the recipe. It’s very loose, and you can add whatever amounts you want. You can make them as sweet or unsweet as you want. If they won’t stick together, add more nut butter until they do. You could even melt chocolate and coat them if you were feeling especially decadent.

puffed rice

almond, peanut, or hazlenut butter

honey or agave nectar

sesame seeds

raisins

chocolate chips

cocoa powder

shredded coconut

nuts

Mix together, roll into balls, and chill until firm.

You can also make peanut butter balls for a variation where you leave out the puffed rice. These hold together on their own and do not need to chill. They’re great for hiking and camping snacks.

Enjoy!