#HealthyTreats #ChocolateLovers #EnergySnacks #WholesomeBites #NutritiousIndulgence

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🌟Our Decadent Chocolatecoated Rice Bites are our unique twist on ancient treats made with rice, dried fruit, and nuts, bound together with soft caramellike toffee, and then studded with nuts and raisins. Nutritional yeast and ground flax seed add flavor, complexity, and nutrition. For a more luxurious treat, coat them with chocolate. Make these decadent creations and let your taste buds tell the truth.

🌟History and Origin:

Sweet rice treats with nuts and dried fruit likely have roots in various cultures where rice, nuts, and dried fruits were staple ingredients, with the addition of a chocolate coating, which has been enjoyed for centuries and traced back to ancient Mesoamerican civilizations. For the first cookbook recipe featuring sweet rice fruit and nut treats across cultures and regions, similar treats may have appeared in culinary manuscripts dating back several centuries.

🌟Preparation:

Review the recipe and gather all the ingredients, tools, and equipment, such as clean mixing bowls, baking sheets, parchment paper, a saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, a spoon or spatula, measuring cups and spoons, a rolling pin (if needed), and a food processor or blender (if using) and a refrigerator.

Clean your kitchen workspace, wipe down countertops, and ensure all tools and equipment are ready to use

Wash your hands with soap and water before handling food ingredients

Measure out all the ingredients required for the recipe and prepare them if necessary.

Follow the recipe instructions for preheating the oven.

🌟Recipe to Make Decadent Chocolate-Coated Rice Bites:

- 1 cup uncooked rice (white or brown)

- 1 cup brown sugar

- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

- 1/2 cup canned milk (evaporated milk)

- 1/2 teaspoon salt

- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

- 12 ounces (about 2 cups) of chocolate chips or chopped chocolate (semisweet or bittersweet)

- 1 teaspoon lard or vegetable shortening

- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

- 1/2 cup chopped raisins

- 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed

- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

- Rolled oat flour (coating barrier)

🌟Instructions:

1. Cook the rice according to package instructions until it's crispy and golden brown around the edges. Once cooked, let the rice cool completely

2. Combine the brown sugar, butter, canned milk, and salt in a medium saucepan. Heat the mixture over mediumlow heat, stirring constantly, until the butter is melted and the ingredients are well combined. Once the mixture starts to simmer, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 1520 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and turns a golden caramel color. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Let the soft caramel cool slightly

3. Melt the lard over low heat in a small saucepan until completely liquefied. Once melted, pour the lard over the chocolate chips or chopped chocolate. Stir the chocolate and lard mixture gently until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth

4. Combine the crispy cooked rice, vanilla caramel sauce, chopped nuts, dried fruit, ground flaxseed, and nutritional yeast in a large mixing bowl. Stir until well combined. Once mixed, shape the mixture into balls of your desired size. Roll each ball in rolled oat flour until coated evenly. Place the coated balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and chill them in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes

5. Dip each ball into melted chocolate until fully coated and return them to the parchmentlined baking sheet. Chill the chocolatecoated balls in the refrigerator for another 30 minutes or until the chocolate is set. Once set, your energy treats are ready to enjoy!

🌟Substitutions:

- Nuts: almonds, pecans, or cashews

- Dried fruits: cranberries, apricots, or dates

- Coatings: shredded coconut, crushed nuts, or cocoa powder instead of ground flaxseed or oat flour barrier

- Crispy bases: quinoa, puffed grains like millet, quinoa, amaranth, crushed rice cakes, or homemade granola

- Toasted coconut flakes will add a delightful tropical flavor and crunchy texture

- Binding agents: maple syrup or honey

- Instead of lard, use shortening to make it a vegetarian recipe

🌟Estimated Nutrition Facts for (one Rice Bite ball)

- 150-180 calories

- 7-9 grams of total fat

- 1-2 grams of saturated fat

- 0-5 milligrams of cholesterol

- 10-20 milligrams of sodium

- 20-25 grams of total carbohydrates

- 2-3 grams of dietary fiber

- 8-12 grams of sugars

- 3-4 grams of protein

🌟The actual nutrition values may differ based on factors such as the specific brands and quantities of ingredients used and variations in serving sizes.

"Happy Eating!"