Using Puffed Brown Rice to Make Homemade Granola Bars

Looking for a crunchy, healthy snack you can make at home? Try using puffed brown rice to make homemade granola bars! It’s an easy, affordable way to make tasty snacks that are great for breakfast, lunchboxes, or an afternoon pick-me-up.

Puffed brown rice is light and airy, but it still has the health benefits of whole grains. Unlike regular puffed rice, which is made from white rice, puffed brown rice keeps the fiber, vitamins, and minerals that are naturally found in brown rice. This makes your granola bars more nutritious and filling. Plus, the puffed texture gives your bars a nice crunch without being too hard to bite.

Why Make Your Own Granola Bars?

Store-bought granola bars can be full of added sugars, oils, and preservatives. When you make them at home, you control what goes in. Want to cut down on sugar? You can. Prefer dried fruit over chocolate chips? Go for it! Homemade granola bars are also a fun way to get kids involved in the kitchen.

What You’ll Need

To make simple puffed brown rice granola bars, gather these basic ingredients:

• 2 cups puffed brown rice

• 1 cup rolled oats

• ½ cup nut butter (like almond or peanut)

• ⅓ cup honey or maple syrup

• ½ cup chopped nuts or seeds (like almonds, walnuts, or sunflower seeds)

• ½ cup dried fruit (like cranberries or raisins)

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• A pinch of salt

How to Make Them

1. Prep the pan: Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper.

2. Mix the dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine puffed brown rice, oats, nuts/seeds, and dried fruit.

3. Make the binder: In a small pot, warm the nut butter and honey (or maple syrup) over low heat. Stir until smooth. Add vanilla and salt.

4. Combine everything: Pour the warm mixture over the dry ingredients. Stir until everything is well coated.

5. Press and chill: Press the mix firmly into your pan. Use the back of a spoon or your hands to press it down evenly. Chill in the fridge for at least an hour.

6. Cut and store: Once firm, lift the bars out and cut into squares or rectangles. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Tips and Ideas

• Add mini chocolate chips, coconut flakes, or chia seeds for extra flavor and texture.

• If the bars don’t stick together well, try adding a little more nut butter or syrup.

• For a firmer bar, bake at 325°F (160°C) for 10 minutes before chilling.

Using puffed brown rice to make homemade granola bars is a simple way to enjoy a healthy snack without much fuss. Try different add-ins and flavors to make them your own. Happy snacking!