Call me Puff CeCe. (Please do?)
I make puffed grain treats, love them, and then I forget. Only to remember a year or so later and get addicted all over again.
If you can find chocolate-covered mini pretzels (I believe Trader Joe’s are vegan), then more power to you. The caramel prep will melt the chocolate, but who’s complaining? If not, non-chocolate-covered pretzels are just fine.
The puffed wheat can be replaced with puffed brown rice, puffed millet, or puffed kamut, and if you can find gluten-free pretzels, then this snack can obviously be made gf-riendly. And if you don’t do brown rice syrup, use agave nectar. Or maple syrup. And if you’re not down with nondairy butter, go for coconut butter/oil. And if you’re still not pleased…you need to get a life. (I love you!)
Salted Caramel Treats 6 cups (114 g) puffed wheat
8 ounces (227 g) salted mini pretzels, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup (56 g) nondairy butter
1/2 cup (96 g) organic brown sugar
1/2 cup (120 ml) brown rice syrup
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup (137 g) vegan salted dry roasted peanuts
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extractLine a 9-inch (23-cm) square pan with wax paper.
Combine wheat and pretzels in a large bowl.
In a medium saucepan, combine butter, sugar, and syrup. Bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Remove from heat. Stir in baking soda: the caramel will thicken up. Stir in peanuts and vanilla.
Pour mixture onto wheat and pretzels, and stir until combined.
Press down in pan with an extra piece of wax paper. Store in fridge before slicing and enjoying.Yield: 12 treats or more
Jennifer said,
February 3, 2010 at 10:49 am
I am drooling over these at my desk right now! YUM!!!
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Jennifer Smith said,
February 3, 2010 at 11:03 am
I love the plate you have it on :) You always take amazing pictures with beautiful and interesting tableware.
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Afsoon said,
February 3, 2010 at 11:28 am
i’m gonna start making these once i start going to art center and i can munch on them while pulling out my hair. you always make the greatest snicky-snacks!
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Celine Reply:
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:37 pm
keep them fingers busy with the munching so that your gorgeous hair stays safe.
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Annika said,
February 3, 2010 at 11:36 am
Just dropping by to say hi!
It looks lovely as always.
♥
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VeggieGirl said,
February 3, 2010 at 12:07 pm
Those look like the treats you used to make for me :-D
Hugs, dear Celine!! <3
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Celine Reply:
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:36 pm
oh I remember that time! it was fun. stressful. but fun.
hugs back at you, Liz.
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VeggieGirl Reply:
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:41 pm
Bahahahaha because I made you substitute carob, almond butter… I’m a picky customer ;)
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Celine Reply:
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:36 pm
I don’t think you had me change the pb. just the carob. which reminds me I have a HUGE bag of carob powder in the pantry, oy vey. I like it, I just never managed to grow 100% in love with it.
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VeggieGirl Reply:
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:55 pm
And now I’m a total chocoholic after all that :-D
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Celine Reply:
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:00 pm
hallelujah, praise the lord of cocoa nibs!
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VeggieGirl Reply:
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:06 pm
SO heavenly.
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Rosa said,
February 3, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Lovely! I love puffed grain treats too!
Cheers,
Rosa
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Michal said,
February 3, 2010 at 12:56 pm
Yum yum in my tum tum! ♥
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Josiane said,
February 3, 2010 at 1:12 pm
You’re absolutely right: anyone who can’t be pleased with these (or the many possible variations) definitely needs to get a life! As for myself, I just need to get some stuff at the co-op, and those yummy treats will be mine, all mine! :)
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Celine Reply:
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:37 pm
I’m a broken record and keep on getting reminded of that “get a life, Ed” Jack in the Box commercial that no one else seems to know about and therefore gets me to be looked at like a nutcase. which I am, but still.
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Josiane Reply:
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Ha! People usually look at me like I am a nutcase because I *don’t* know that commercial they’re talking about… until they remember, a moment or two later, the fact that “oh, right, she’s the nutcase who doesn’t watch TV” – different reason, but still a nutcase! So, you and I together, dear!
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Celine Reply:
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:59 pm
I think the only tv I watch anymore is the food network. because somebody has to poke fun at Giada’s boobies and Guy’s hair.
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Josiane Reply:
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:01 pm
“because somebody has to do it” – j’admire ton esprit de sacrifice, darling! ;)
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Celine Reply:
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:16 pm
aren’t I a peach? no one would make fun of my boobies or hair. non. personne.
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Juliana said,
February 3, 2010 at 5:07 pm
Nice treats! Like the combination of the ingredients in it…puffed wheat, pretzels and peanuts…yummie!
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veggie wedgie said,
February 3, 2010 at 5:28 pm
Nice looking puffies and even nicer looking plate!!
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Julie Hasson said,
February 3, 2010 at 7:48 pm
These look amazing Celine! OMG, I love you!
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Kelly said,
February 4, 2010 at 6:34 am
Yum. Originally I was thinking puff pastry based on the title, but this is even better!
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Jes said,
February 4, 2010 at 10:15 am
Wow, puffed deliciousness! The puffing makes them better for you, right? ;)
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Bianca- Vegan Crunk said,
February 4, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Who doesn’t do brown rice syrup? Crazy people, obviously. :-) These sound delicious. I love little treats like this!
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Patricia (Run Foodie Run) said,
February 4, 2010 at 5:44 pm
Your pictures are gorgeous! I can’t wait for the weekend to try one of your recipes. I had never been to your website before until tonight and I have a feeling I’m going to be a regular reader. :)
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Melisser said,
February 5, 2010 at 12:38 am
Damn girl, a Puff for every vegan! These sound awesome.
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kitchenspoon said,
February 5, 2010 at 9:18 am
puff cece….i like it.
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Trinity said,
February 5, 2010 at 1:26 pm
yum. Those look like perfect little squares of deliciousness.
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Y said,
February 6, 2010 at 3:03 pm
Salted caramel. That’s all I needed to know. YUM.
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BRONWYN said,
February 24, 2010 at 9:27 pm
Hmmm -might have to give these a go -was actually looking for a recipe to make caramel from carobs as I have a productive carob tree at my kitchen door which is dropping carob beans as we speak-I guess i could substitute the rice bran syrup with carob syrup if i can ever find a recipe for such
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