Cereal bars have always been such a convenient food. They’re a great snack when you’re craving something sweet, and filling. They’re also great for on-the-go breakfasts, when you are in a hurry.

Unfortunately, these beloved cereal bars are usually full of unnecessary sugars that we really do not need.

For a while I have been looking at recipes to try and make my own bars, seeing as I had all the ingredients in my house anyway. I’ve had a bag of puffed rice in my cupboard for a little while, along with raisins and craisins for when I make my own granola.

I decided today was going to be the day that I combine several recipes to come up with my own. And, can I just tell you…. they are delicious!!!

They’re not low on points due to the puffed rice, honey and raisins, but they are only 5 SmartPoints per bar, and they will definitely serve as a great snack or after-dinner treat if you need to satisfy your sweet tooth. It worked for me!

Today has been a day well spent with food. I made Jamie Oliver’s Harissa Roasted Cauliflower from his 5 Ingredients Cookbook – which I will post up soon. I also covered a whole chicken in piri piri salt and roasted it. It was bloody beautiful.

I’ve also decided to try and make my own vanilla extract. I have no idea if it’ll work, but there are plenty of people out there doing it – so I figured, why not? All I needed was a bottle, vanilla beans and vodka. Yep – you read that right. Vodka. I’ll post up how it goes when I can start using it in six weeks.

Anyway… on to those cereal bars. You can swap in different grains, such as oats or your favourite cereal if you like. You can also swap out the honey for another sugar alternative such as agave or coconut nectar. There’s also the option of adding in more or different nuts – peanuts would work really well.

Ingredients

3 cups puffed rice
1 cup roasted unsalted almonds
1 cup raisins
1 cup craisins
1 cup medjool dates
1/3 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Sea salt

1. Add all dry ingredients into a large bowl and mix together, to ensure raisins, almonds and craisins are evenly distributed.
2. Blend the dates in a food processor until they clump together, and form a rough ball.
3. In a saucepan, heat the honey, vanilla extract and salt over a low heat until boiling.
4. Remove from the heat and add the dates to the honey mixture. Whisk until the dates are incorporated.
5. Pour the date and honey mixture over the puffed rice, and mix well to ensure that everything is coated.
6. Line a baking tray with parchment paper, and scoop the cereal mixture into the tray. Make sure to push down to ensure that all ingredients stick together, and form a rectangle.
7. Allow to cool completely, then slice into ten equal portions.
8. Store in an air-tight container, and keep in the fridge.
9. The bars should last a week to ten days if stored properly.