I have had this little recipe in my mind for about a year now. It’s an adaptation of this recipe and inspired by these (though I am sure mine have way more than 150 calories per serving!). I remembered it the other day, when I was looking for something yummy to make and I discovered that I had all of the ingredients, minus one. Once I had those hot little nuggets (nuggets is such a weird, but fun word) in my hands I was in the kitchen working my magic. I really hope you enjoy these as much we have…meaning you make them today and have them half eaten in less than 12 hours!
Salty Sweet Bars
6 cups toasted rice square (a.k.a. Rice Chex)
4 cups pretzel thins (slightly crushed)
1 1/2 cups Kraft Caramel Bits
3 cups chocolate chips (semi-sweet or milk)
1 1/3 cups sugar
1/2 cup karo syrup
1 cup butter
salt
In a large bowl combine toasted rice squares with crushed pretzels. **I just crushed them with my hands and not into tiny pieces. You just want to break them up a bit. In a medium sauce pan over medium high heat combine sugar, karo syrup and butter. Bring to a boil and boil for one minute, stirring constantly. DO NOT over cook! Immediately pour over dry mixture and toss to coat. Once it’s completely coated, add in caramel bits and gently combine. If you add these too early, they will just melt together. Lightly spray a 9×13 or a 10×10 pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle the bottom of the pan with chocolate chips. Lightly sprinkle the chocolate chips with salt. It’s sounds odd, but trust me. Top with cereal mixture and press down to make more compact, like you would with rice crispy treats. You may need to use a flat spatula to help press it down if mixture is still too hot. Again, lightly sprinkle the top with salt. Top with remaining chocolate chips. Now the hard part…wait about 4 hours to let the chocolate set back up. Cut into small squares (smaller than what’s pictured in the photo) and beat off your friends and family with a stick because they will be gone before you know it!
**Feel free to mix it up a bit by adding corn/wheat chex or another fun cereal. Just make sure you stick to 6 cups total of whatever you choose. You could even add nuts if you were feeling a little crazy…about 3/4 cup.
