Puffed Rice and Chocolate Bars

Puffed rice and chocolate bars are a sweet, crunchy, and mouth-watering snack that is very simple to prepare. Here’s how:

Ingredients

• 200 g of dark or milk chocolate, depending on your preferences
• 100 g of puffed rice
• 50 g of butter (or a vegetable oil if you prefer a dairy-free version)
• 2 tablespoons of honey or maple syrup

Preparation

1. Start by roughly chopping the chocolate and then melt it in a double boiler using a heat-resistant bowl set over a pot of simmering water, making sure the bowl does not touch the water. You could also melt it in the microwave, be sure to use short intervals and stir frequently to prevent it from burning.

2. Once the chocolate is completely melted, remove it from the heat and add the butter cut into pieces. Mix well until the butter is completely melted and combined with the chocolate.

3. Add the honey or maple syrup to the mixture and stir to incorporate it well.

4. Now pour the puffed rice into the bowl with the chocolate and butter mixture, stirring gently with a wooden spoon or a spatula to avoid crushing the rice grains.

5. Take a baking tray or a square/rectangular container and line it with parchment paper. Pour the puffed rice and chocolate mixture in and flatten well with the spoon to create an even layer.

6. Allow to cool at room temperature for a few minutes, then move the container to the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, so that the bars solidify properly.

7. After chilling in the fridge, remove the block of puffed rice and chocolate and cut it into bars of your desired size.

8. Store the puffed rice and chocolate bars in the refrigerator in an airtight container to keep them crunchy.

There you have it, your bars are ready to be enjoyed!

Curiosity

Puffed rice is simply rice that has been steam cooked and then subjected to high pressure until it “explodes”. This process gives it the light and airy texture that pairs so well with the solidity of the chocolate in the bars.