GF – Almond Joy Krispie Rice Treats

If you’ve been following us recently you know we are committed to finding more gluten free (GF) options in our food posts.  Both of your Two Chums have family members who need to avoid the gluten that is common in so many baked goods and all sorts of other foods as well.  Gluten pops up in a lot of very unexpected places.
For example if you read the label of Rice Krispies, the cereal usually associated with the classic treat, Rice Krispie Squares, you would assume they are safe to eat for a person who can’t have gluten.  Rice Krispies are obviously made from rice which is a common grain that doesn’t contain any gluten and is therefore rice is a staple for people needing to adhere to a gluten free diet.  If you read the ingredients in Rice Krispies you would probably determine that there is no gluten in them, even though the box doesn’t say anywhere that they are gluten free, as one would expect it would say.  That’s because one of the sweeteners used in Rice Krispies comes from malt.  Malt contains gluten.

If you didn’t know that you would naturally assume they would be safe to eat.  But if you, or a family member, has celiac disease (a severe gluten intolerance) you would know very shorty after eating them that you had ingested gluten.  For people who have a severe gluten intolerance, or serious sensitivity, the ill effects of gluten are obvious very quickly.

We bring all this up to say that there are rice cereals available that are not sweetened with malt products and are gluten free.  But they will most certainly say that on the packaging.  So if making this recipe gluten free is important, check the package of the cereal you are using.

These Almond Joy Krispie Rice Treats are made in the classic method of Rice Krispie Squares but with cocoa favored rice cereal and with the addition of coconut and almonds and fudge chocolate icing drizzled over the top.  It’s the weekend, and a simple gluten free treat might be just what you need to go with some quality time with family or friends while watching a movie or playing your favorite game together.  Enjoy!

Almond Joy Krispie Rice Treats

1 stick of butter
2 bags of mini marshmallows
1/4 cup cocoa powder
12-15 oz of gluten free cocoa rice cereal
2 cups of shredded coconut
1 1/2 cups slivered almonds
Chocolate fudge icing

Melt butter in a large pan.  Stir in marshmallows and stir over a low heat until they are melted and mixed well with the butter.  Add in the cocoa powder and keep stirring.  When the mixture is combined well, remove from the heat and stir in the cocoa rice cereal.  Next add the coconut and continue stirring until it’s well combined.  Turn the mixture out on to a buttered baking sheet.  Sprinkle almonds over the top and with damp hands press them into the rice mixture.  Allow the cocoa rice mixture to cool and set up for about 15 minutes then drizzle with Chocolate Fudge Icing.

Chocolate Fudge Icing
4 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 lb. powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Melt butter and add milk and cocoa powder to sauce pan and heat through stirring until everything is well mixed together.  Pour cocoa mixture over the powdered sugar and mix well and quickly.  Stir in vanilla.  While icing is still warm and runny sizzle it over the cocoa rice mixture in the pan.  Allow to set up for at least 30 minutes or for about 15 minutes in the refrigerator, then cut into squares and serve.  YUM!!!