Red Eye Rice Treats are vegan, caffeinated road food. This has to be good for cyclists on a long haul day. The recipe is also easy to modify. Here’s my version:
- 6 cups puffed brown rice – any puffed rice will do, really
- 1 cup peanut butter – creamy? chunky? I offer no suggestions.
- 1 cup brown sugar corn syrup – or brown rice syrup, organic light corn syrup, or molasses/honey mix … if you want maple syrup, I’d recommend going the half/half way by mixing it up with granulated sugar or rather fine other sugar
- 1/2 t pure vanilla extract – or peppermint or spearmint!
- 2 t instant coffee crystals crushed into a fine powder with the back of a spoon – this may be the max to keep the coffee flavor from overwhelming the others
- 1/3+ cup cocoa powder – the original called for carob powder, so feel free if you’re so inclined.
This can be made in a stand mixer if you have one. Otherwise you’ll get a workout stirring it all together. Mix everything except the rice puffs. When those ingredients are well blended fold in the rice puffs and stir until fully mixed. Have a parchment lined 9×9 pan ready. Press the mix down into the pan – press hard! – perhaps with a second 9×9 pan. When fully compressed refrigerate for an hour, then cut up into your favorite sized chunks.
There is not a significant amount of caffeine here. For extra zip consider mixing in a tin of Penguin Caffeinated Mints. Three of those equal a cup of coffee so you’ll want to have plenty. I’m also thinking of raisins or other mixable goodies might be real fun. Maybe some oatmeal? Don’t be timid!
(not a red eye rice treat)
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