Rocky Road Cereal Bars

Total Time: 20 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups rice krispies
• 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
• 1/4 cup textured vegetable protein
• 1/4 cup ground flax seeds
• 1/4 cup hersheys cocoa powder
• 3 1/3 cups mini marshmallows, divided (chop 1/3 cup & set aside)
• 1/4 cup pecan halves, chopped
• 3 tablespoons carob chips
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 4 butter-flavored cooking spray

Recipe

• 1 spray an 8" x 8" square pan with 4 sprays non-stick cooking spray; set aside.
• 2 combine cereal, oats, textured vegetable protein and flax seed in a large bowl; set aside.
• 3 in large pot over medium heat, melt 3 cups of mini marshmallows with the olive oil, stirring constantly.
• 4 add cocoa powder and salt; mix well.
• 5 add vanilla extract; mix well.
• 6 turn off heat and add cereal mixture; stir until well combined.
• 7 put half of the cereal mixture in prepared pan; sprinkle with half of the nuts, half of the carob chips and half of the chopped marshmallows, pressing cereal mixture firmly down into pan.
• 8 repeat previous step with remaining ingredients. chill until firm, remove from pan and cut into 12 bars. store in ziplock baggie at room temperature.