Peanut Butter Krispy Treats Recipe
A twist on the classic, I use crisp brown rice cereal slathered in a decadent peanut butter maple syrup sludge. This version of treats has bits of chopped, toasted pistachios throughout - also vegan (no marshmallows) and gluten-free.
Most of what I'm going to need in the next two weeks is arranged in small piles on my bed right now. A couple dresses, cameras, and books. Film, lipstick, light meter, passport, hand wipes, ponytail holders, and batteries. I'm getting on a flight to Paris in a few hours. Pinch me, I've never been (!?!), and I can't wait. Last year Clotilde and I started chatting about swapping apartments. The idea was this - she and Maxence would come stay here in San Francisco, and Wayne and I would stay in her place in Montmartre. We settled on dates, bought our tickets, and here I am bubbling with excitement, trying to pack, doing my best not to forget my toothbrush. I made a few little airport snacks to bring along including these peanut butter crispy treats, a riff on the version I made for Super Natural Cooking.
They are made with crisp brown rice cereal (available at many natural foods stores) mixed into a hot, decadent peanut butter maple syrup sludge. I did this version with lots of chopped, toasted pistachios throughout. Also, instead of cutting them into bars, I pressed them into wrapper-lined muffin tins.
You can serve these guys to mixed crowds too. Vegans, vegetarians, and people who avoid gelatin like them in part because I don't call for marshmallows (which often contain gelatin). Instead I use a slightly obscure natural ingredient called agar agar flakes. It's a sea vegetable that you can use to thicken puddings, custards, or in this case to give the peanut butter and maple syrup mixture some binding power. You can find the flakes in many natural food stores.
We have a layover in Chicago, and I'm going to keep these right near the top of my carry-on, for convenient snacking. And no worries - while I'm gone, I'm not abandoning the site altogether. I have a couple recipes waiting on the server to share, and a new favorite cookbook list from a friend in Sweden. Hopefully that'll be enough to keep things lively around here until I get home. If you have any advice, tips, or places not to miss in Paris or Madrid, my thanks in advance. I have quite a list going for both cities, but some of my favorite spots from our trip to Tokyo were ones you suggested! xo -h
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Peanut Butter Krispy Treats
Be sure to use crisp brown rice cereal and not puffed rice cereal.
3/4 cup unsalted peanut butter
3/4 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
2 1/2 teaspoons agar agar flakes (available at a health foods stores)
4 cups unsweetened (or lightly sweetened) crisp brown rice cereal
3/4 cup pistachios, toasted and chopped
Line two muffin tins with about 18 muffin/cupcake wrappers, and set aside.
Combine the peanut butter, maple syrup, salt, and agar flakes in a large saucepan over low heat and stir constantly until smooth, hot, melted, and bubbling just a bit. Add the cereal and 1/2 cup of the pistachios and stir until well coated. Spoon two heaping tablespoons of the mixture into each muffin wrapper and press into place with the back of a spoon. Alternately, if you want krispy squares, you can transfer it to an 8 by 8-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining pistachios and refrigerate until completely cool (this also helps the agar set).
Makes about 1 1/2 dozen treats.
Prep time: 10 minutes - Cook time: 5 minutes
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Heidi- For a pain au chocolat like no other (my favorite way to eat them is to peel off the buttery layers one by one), try Le Grenier à Pain, which is in Montmartre on rue des Abbbesses (near Abbesses metro). Have a great time! -Julia
What a fun trip! I can't wait to hear about it :) Question: I don't have agar agar flakes, but I do have both Guar Gum & Xanthan Gum. Could I use either of those to bind? I'm trying to avoid purchasing so many obscure ingredients. Thanks.
Just follow Clotilde's book, and you'll be fine. Oh, and bring a paper bag to breathe into for the wonder that is E. Dehillerin. And I would stock up on vanilla beans at G. Detou if I were you. And smuggle back some "feves tonka" from there as well. Have a wonderful time and say hi to Rose Bakery for me!
!!! what a fabulous idea. i'm sure you'll have an amaaaaazing time, i can't wait to see some baeutiful photos! these look good! i never would have thought to add pistachios .yummmm
Wow, lucky you! Have you and Clotilde left each other a list of your favorite places to food shop? I'm looking forward to reading about each of your adventures. These look like the perfect snacks to keep you going on the long flight. Bon voyage!
I am off to Paris in a couple of weeks myself! Here are a few of my favorite spots from my last visit four years ago: 1) Chez Papa - Even if you have to wait an hour for a table (as I did), the food here is worth it. I had the most amazing salad that I still recreate at home. 2) Sainte-Chapelle - Skip Notre Dame and head here instead. The stained glass is truly spectacular. 3) La Cure Gourmande - Chocolates, candies, and biscuits as far as the eye can see...and conveniently located near the Centre Pompidou.
Definitely get a museum pass in Paris--not only do you get to the head of the line, but at Notre Dame, you climb up and are literally face-to-face with the gargoyles--it is a sight to see! Do not miss the stained glass in some of the old cathedrals, either. Some of my favorite memories are gazing at all of the beautiful colors! As for Madrid, head to the plazas and sit at a cafe drinking Sangria and people watch. So worth it, (and the wine is delicious, too!) Enjoy your trip!
Beautiful muffin tin! Have so much fun in Paris!
I was in Paris this spring with my daughters (one of whom is vegetarian), One of our favorite lunches was in La Marais - L'as Du Fallafel (in the old Jewish quarter). The best fallafels ever! Your order from a little window and eat standing in the street. There is always a line but they are so fast that the line moves quickly. I still dream about those fallafels! I had done lots of research before I went and this was listed over and over as a must visit- how right they all were!! Have a great trip!!!
I love this spin on rice crispy treats! Your idea of pressing the mixture into muffin tins is genius. I just made a "revamped" version the other day as well. It's so much fun to give an old treat a new makeover.
Yum! Have fun in Paris. It's an amazing place and I'm sure you'll love it. PS: Amazing job on Krispy Treats. I'll feeling inspired to get up off of the couch and chef these bad babies up. :)
What a delicious snack and AMAZING trip! have a wonderful time!!!
Have a safe journey and a fantastic trip. I am sure you will have amazing things to share with your eager audience when you return. I look forward to traveling vicariously through your stories, photos and recipes. And thank you for another great snack! Looks like a healthy treat for a busy time of the year. All the best - Michaela
@ Myrna - candlenuts are ground to a meal/paste and used to thicken curries and sauces. They can have a laxative effect so best not to use too many until you are used to them ! @ Heidi - I have some friends coming for afternoon tea and this is a perfect addition to the planned spread. Thanks! Have a wonderful time in Paris. I look forward to reading about it when you get back :)
You'll love Paris and so great you get to do an apartment swap. My favorite bakeries are Des Gateaux du Pain and Eric Kayser. Pierre Herme is a must, esp. for their kouign aman, croissants, isaphan, macarons....you get the point. Thanks for posting a treat for the airplane. I'm going back home to San Francisco (layover in Chicago as well) for a week in a few days so I'll be making these. And I can use up what little peanut butter I have left because I get to restock when I'm home!
Hi, - The recipe looks amazing and I am keen to try it ! Small q: Can I substitue the maple syrup with honey or any other sweet-thick thing ? If so - what are the quamntities of honey to use instead of the maple ? Thanks.. Sagi :)
hello Heidi I'm glad you're coming to Paris. I follow both your blogs, Clotilde and you, regularly.... I've just brought back from a trip to Bali, a bag of candlenut that I mistakenly thought were macadamia nut. If you know how tu use that, I'd be glad to hand it over to you while you're here in Paris. Feel free to e-mail me. And have a good trip !
Paris is always wonderful and worth a trip. If you have enough time and like parks you shouldn't miss the "parc André Citroën". It's a bit far off but wonderful. And although it always sounds strange, at least to me, one absolutely has to visit at least one cemetery in Paris, the most famous being père-lachaise. Enjoy!
oh that sounds fantastic - both the krispy treats and your european trip. you'll love it there! do head for markets for fruits and vegetables, they are beautiful. cheese and chocolate, too! take lots of photos, both of you, Heidi & Wayne... have a safe trip and have a wonderful time!
What a great idea swapping apartments. Paris is one of my favorite places. If you are into museums make sure you buy the Museum pass as it will save you hours in queues. We literally walked past a mile long queue of people waiting to get into the Musée d'Orsay with our museum pass and strolled in without having to wait. Well worth it.
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