Pumpkin Flax Granola Rice Treats

Rule 39: Eat all the junk food you want as long as you cook it yourself. 

Michael Pollan, Food Rules

Not that homemade crispy rice treats are health foods compared to commercially prepared Rice Krispie Treats. But if I have to make each batch from scratch, I'd eat them much less often because they require a bit of time and a LOT of arm strength. 

In my version, there are more protein and fiber but less fat than the original Treats. Also, check out the 6 simple ingredients in this recipe versus the long list of weird substances in prepackaged ones.  

3/4 lb. pumpkin and flax granola
(Nature's Path, available in bulk at Whole Foods and Henry's)

2-3 cups crispy rice cereal
1/2 bag marshmallows
3/4 cup freeze dried strawberries (crumbled)
1/2 Sliced almonds
1 1/2 tbsp. butter

1. Melt butter over low flame. 
2. Add marshmallows when butter has melted.
   * Have patience with the butter and marshmallow to avoid browning them.
3. Crumble strawberries and mix with granola. 
4. Add crispy rice cereal to strawberry-granola mixture. Use less for chewier treats, more for crispier treats. 
5. Remove marshmallow from heat once it has melted completely. 
6. Add granola-cereal mixture in batches to ensure even coating. 
7. Transfer mixture into a 9"x12" pan coated with oil from oil mister or lined with parchment paper.
8. Level mixture using spatula or the bottom of a measuring cup. 
9. Sprinkle and press sliced almonds over top.

Yields one 9"x12" pan

Kellogg's® Rice Krispies Treats® Original bars TOASTED RICE CEREAL (RICE, SUGAR, SALT, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, MALT FLAVORING, NIACINAMIDE, REDUCED IRON, RIBOFLAVIN [VITAMIN B2], FOLIC ACID), MARSHMALLOW (CORN SYRUP, SUGAR, GELATIN, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR), FRUCTOSE, MARGARINE (VEGETABLE OIL [SOYBEAN, PALM, AND PALM KERNEL OIL WITH TBHQ FOR FRESHNESS], WATER, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL BUTTER FLAVOR [CONTAINS MILK], DATEM, ACETYLATED MONOGLYCERIDES, BHT [PRESERVATIVE], VITAMIN A PALMITATE, VITAMIN D), CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, CONTAINS TWO PERCENT OR LESS OF DEXTROSE, GLYCERIN, SALT, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B6), THIAMIN HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B1), SOY LECITHIN.