This cereal bars recipe is a great healthy snack for kids—including kids with certain food allergies and special dietary needs. This grab-and-go snack is easily made with both gluten-free and casein-free ingredients. In the ingredients list I provide the reader with recommended ingredients that are free of certain allergens. My son, a little boy on the autism spectrum that loves to eat, and is also on a vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, and casein-free diet, approves of these tasty treats. Of course, for those that don’t have special dietary needs, this recipe can be made with ingredients that aren’t necessarily allergen-free.

Combine the cereal, dried apples, cinnamon, and flaxseed.

Heat and combine the natural buttery spread and almond butter.

Add the heated mixture to the cereal mixture, press into a pan, refrigerate, and serve.

Recipe:

Ingredients List—

Chocolate rice cereal puffs, 3 cups (Recommendation: Nature’s Path EnviroKidz Organic Koala Crisp Chocolate Cereal, GFCF)

Dried apples, 1 ½ cups, chopped

Cinnamon, ½ tablespoon

Flaxseed, 1 tablespoon, ground

Natural buttery spread, 1/3 cup (Recommendation: Earth Balance Soy Free Natural Buttery Spread , GFCFSF)

Almond butter, 1 cup (Recommendation: Earth Balance Natural Almond Butter, GFCFSF) (For a homemade almond butter recipe, check out Jen’s Maple Cinnamon Almond Butter , this recipe can also be made using GF ingredients)

Instructions—

1. In a large bowl, combine the cereal, dried apples, cinnamon, and flaxseed.

2. In a small pot, heat the natural buttery spread over low heat for 30 seconds, or until melted.

3. Add the almond butter to the melted buttery spread, continue to cook over low heat for another 30 seconds, stirring to achieve a creamy consistency.

4. Add the natural buttery spread and almond butter mixture to the bowl of cereal, dried apples, cinnamon, and flaxseed; and stir until completely coated.

5. Press everything in the bowl into an 8×11.5 pan, refrigerate for 1 hour, and slice into cereal bars for an easy and healthy snack that kids love.

Post by Kristina Michel : Mom Colored Glasses

For more ideas from Kristina check out her blog Live, Love, Laugh, and Autism.