Rice crispy treats done the New Zealand way using butter and honey that are known as rice bubbles. The butter and honey create a dreamy, sticky caramel sauce that pairs tastefully with the crunchy rice cereal. Feel free to add a scoop of salted caramel protein powder for extra flavor and nutrients. These bars are so good. They make me feel like I’m back in a fancy overseas bakery.
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Why you will love this recipe
- Zero refined sugar
- Rice crispy’s made the New Zealand way
- Topped with flakey sea salt
- No marshmallows needed
- Made in one saucepan
Ingredient notes
Rice Cereal: I love using 365 Organic Brown Rice Crisps in this recipe. Funny enough but some rice cereals contain corn syrup and it’s not needed. I keep the ingredients clean so you don’t have to worry and the 365 rice cereal brand contains only organic whole grain brown rice, organic cane sugar and sea salt. The good stuff! If you don’t have a whole foods close by Natures Path Rice Cereal is really good and contains clean ingredients too.
Butter: Salted or unsalted butter can be used. Just add salt to the recipe if using unsalted butter. Redmond Real Salt in my favorite. For a true New Zealand Rice Bubble use grass fed butter though. That’s how New Zealand rolls. Everything in their country is grass fed and clean. They know quality matters in terms of nutrients and taste. Man I wish I lived there.
Honey: use a pure, organic raw honey. Not the super cheap stuff. I promise it makes all the difference.
Sugar: I used organic coconut sugar to make this recipe free of refined sugar but you can use organic cane sugar or regular white sugar instead.
Protein Powder: this is an unnecessary ingredient but adds protein to this already amazing treat. Making it nutrient dense. I promise you can’t taste it. It’s a secret, super, ninja ingredient. I use Just Ingredients Salted Caramel Protein Powder in this recipe. Her protein powder is the only protein powder that taste supper good with out being chalky in texture and doesn’t make me bloated. It also contains New Zealand grass fed whey making it perfect for this New Zealand inspired treat. You could use a vanilla protein powder or plain protein powder too.
Salt: You don’t have to sprinkle flakey sea salt on top but it helps to balance out the sweetness and enrich the other ingredients in the dessert squares. The salt also makes the rice crispy treats look like bakery quality. Maldon Sea Salt Flakes are my favorite.
How to make the rice bubble squares
- Start by lining an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Now add rice crispy’s to a large mixing bowl to use later.
- Next add butter, honey and coconut sugar to a medium saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil; stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Boil the honey mixture for 1 minute, stirring frequently and then remove from the heat.
- Quickly stir in 1 scoop of Just Ingredients Salted Carmel Protein Powder with a whisk until smooth if using.
- Poor the hot mixture over the rice crispy treats and fold the two into each other using a rubber spatula until the cereal is completely covered in the caramel sauce.
- Dump the coated rice cereal into the prepared baking pan lined with parchment paper and evenly spread out to the sides of the pan.
- Sprinkle the top of the bars with sea salt flakes and let the treats cool for 10-15 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy. Store leftover in an airtight container for up to 3 days for freshness or cover with a form fitting lid.
Salted Caramel Protein Rice Bubble Squares
Ingredients
- Ingredients:
- 4 cups rice cereal
- ½ cup butter salted or unsalted
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt if using unsalted butter
- ¼ cup organic raw honey
- ¼ cup coconut sugar or organic cane sugar
- 1 scoop of Just Ingredients Salted Carmel Protein Powder optional
- Sea salt flakes for topping
Instructions
- Instructions:
- Start by lining an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Now add rice crispy's to a large mixing bowl to use later.
- Next add butter, honey and coconut sugar to a medium saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil; stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Boil the honey mixture for 1 minute, stirring frequently and then remove from the heat.
- Quickly stir in 1 scoop of Just Ingredients Salted Carmel Protein Powder with a whisk until smooth if using.
- Poor the hot mixture over the rice crispy treats and fold the two into each other using a rubber spatula until the cereal is completely covered in the caramel sauce.
- Dump the coated rice cereal into the prepared baking pan lined with parchment paper and evenly spread out to the sides of the pan.
- Sprinkle the top of the bars with sea salt flakes and let the treats cool for 10-15 minutes.
- Sprinkle the top of the bars with sea salt flakes and let the treats cool for 10-15 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy. Store leftover in an airtight container for up to 3 days for freshness or cover with a form fitting lid.