Red-Eye Treats

• 3/4 cup (192 g) natural crunchy or creamy peanut butter or any nut butter
• 1/2 cup (172 g) brown rice syrup
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) pure maple syrup or (168 g) agave nectar
• 1 tablespoon (4 g) instant coffee or coffee alternative powder
• 1/3 cup (27 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 6 cups (96 g) puffed grain, such as brown rice or kamut, plus more as needed

1. Combine the peanut butter, rice syrup, maple syrup, instant coffee, and cocoa powder in a medium-size saucepan and cook over medium-low heat for a couple of minutes to dissolve the coffee powder and to make combining easier.
2. Stir occasionally.
3. Remove from the heat, add the vanilla, and stir to combine.
4. Add the puffed grain to a large bowl, pour the wet ingredients on top, and mix well until it is coated with the sticky mixture.
5. Add more puffed grain if you are looking for denser treats, or if the mixture looks too wet.
6. Line an 8-inch (20-cm) square pan with parchment paper.
7. Add the mixture and press down firmly, using more parchment paper to flatten.
8. Chill in the refrigerator or freezer for about 1 hour, then cut into 8 pieces.
9. Store in the refrigerator or freezer.

natural crunchy, brown rice syrup, maple syrup, coffee, cocoa, vanilla, puffed grain

Taken from www.cookstr.com/recipes/red-eye-treats (may not work)