Cocoa Flavored Puffed Millet Crispy Treats

Rice crispy treats are probably one of my favorite desserts ever!  I love how their sticky, crunchy, and gooey textures blend together in perfect harmony.  But there are two downsides to them: sugar and carbs.  I decided to do a little google-ing, to figure out how I could pull off a lower carb, no sugar rice crispy treat.  I ended up discovering that puffed millet cereal possesses zero sugar and only 6 grams of net carbs per cup.  I later went to a blog called The Comfy Belly and found a rice crispy recipe made with puffed rice and honey.  I substituted raw agave nectar for the honey, which is low glycemic, less calories, and lower carbs.  I also replaced puffed rice with puffed millet.  After that, I began to experiment and have fun with the foundation of the recipe by adding raw cacao powder, to give it a chocolate-y taste.  

I hope this recipe helps you to continue your road to a healthier lifestyle :) .

Puffed Millet Crispy Treats

(Adapted from The Comfy Belly Blog)

Ingredients

1/2 cup raw agave nectar

4 tbsp butter

1/4 tsp sea salt

1 rounded tbsp raw cacao powder, or cocoa powder

3 cups puffed millet cereal

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Toast the puffed millet cereal on a cookie sheet in the oven for 15 minutes.
2. Heat agave nectar, cacao powder, salt, and butter in a medium saucepan over low heat.  Let it simmer for 5 minutes, being careful not to let it burn.
3. Cool agave nectar mix for a few minutes, then add the toasted puffed millet and stir.
4. Scoop the mix into a baking dish and smooth the top with a spoon.
5. Let it cool for 15-20 minutes.
6. Slice it into squares, or any other shapes, and enjoy!

Fun Fact

Millet is one of the most nutritious whole grains you can eat!  It contains rich amounts of iron, B-vitamins, and fiber, which are all essential for a healthy lifestyle.  It also contains two times the amount of protein found in rice, and a large amount of magnesium, a vitally important mineral that keeps your nerves and muscles functioning properly.