Messy Cook

I was craving a snack one afternoon and I couldn’t decide if I wanted a sweet snack or a salty one.  So, I made these haystacks, a great combination of sweet and salty.

I had a box of Kashi cereal that I had previously bought for a recipe that I never actually got around to making.  This recipe was on the side of the box and I had everything but almond butter on hand to make it.  A handful of almonds, my handy food processor and I was good to go.  These haystacks did not last long in my house.  Even the skeptics came back for seconds, and thirds…

These can be made to suit your tastes and what is currently taking up space in your pantry.  Have another kind of cereal?  Use that instead.  Don’t have almond butter?  No problem, try peanut butter or another nut butter.  Prefer dark chocolate?  Sounds great.  These are very easy to make your own.    

Puffs and Pretzels Haystacks
adapted from kashi.com

3 ½ cups Kashi® 7 Whole Grain Puffs cereal
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup broken pretzel sticks (about ¾ inch pieces)
⅔ cup coarsely chopped almonds
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ cup smooth natural almond butter
large pinch of kosher salt
 

In a large mixing bowl, combine Kashi® 7 Whole Grain Puffs cereal, coconut, pretzel pieces and almonds. Set aside. Place chocolate chips in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 10-second intervals, stirring until melted. Add almond butter for the last 10 seconds then stir until smooth. Pour melted mixture over cereal mixture and stir until well coated. Drop by heaping tablespoonful onto waxed paper. Sprinkle each haystack with kosher salt.  Refrigerate until firm. Serve.

MessyCook note:  If you don’t have almond butter on hand, make your own.  To make the 1/2 cup needed for this recipe, put 3/4 cup of raw or toasted almonds into the bowl of your food processor.  Blend until a smooth paste forms, it may take a few minutes.  Add a few drops of vegetable oil if the butter is too dry.