Caramel Millet

 After quite some time and many requests, I am finally posting my yummy caramel millet recipe. I'm posting the healthier version, but also the more pricey and a bit more rare ingredients recipe. But, if you go with that I put in parenthesizes, it will turn out just fine and cheaper. Coconut oil acts like vegan butter, and coconut sugar acts like brown sugar in this recipe. So, easily switched. Also, it doesn't have to be puffed millet, it can be puffed rice, puffed kamut, puffed wheat, or even a rice krispie type cereal.

 Caramel Puffed Millet Treats

1/4 c coconut oil (can use vegan butter sub)
1/2 c coconut sugar (can use brown sugar)
1/2 c brown rice syrup
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla extract

5 cups puffed millet (or any other puffed 'cereal')

In a small pot over med-low heat add the oil and sugar. Mix well, and add in brown rice syrup. Keep stirring, it will come to a boil, turn heat to low as you are still stirring. Let it boil for 4 min, stirring randomly so it doesn't stick to the bottom or burn.
Cut the heat & mix in the soda. There will be a chemical reaction when it mixes, so it will bubble up and become a lighter brown. Then mix in the vanilla.

In a brownie pan, pour the puffed millet. Follow up with the caramel sauce and mix it all together. Once the caramel has coated the millet, press it into the pan.

**Sometimes I mix other things into it, like nuts, coconut and or dried fruit. I have mixed in chocolate chips a few times as well, but you have to know they won't really stay chips, it will turn into more of chocolate streaks, the caramel melts the chocolate. It goes very well being melted on top though, like chocolate frosting!

 

Caramel Chia Seed Granola (GF, Vegan)

I'm guessing that you haven't really used puffed millet in things before, but it's a nice addition to this granola. It is those round light colored things in the granola. You can find it in the cereal aisle at the health food store. The regular grocery store generally will have puffed rice or other puffed cereal that you could easily use in it's place. If you don't have buckwheat groats, you can use all oats. This is a really flexible recipe.

Just out of the oven!

It made a bit more than that, I kept eating it before I took the pic

Made a coconut yogurt & blueberry parfait with the granola!

Makes about 2 1/2 cups

2/3 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup buckwheat groats
2/3 cup puffed millet
1/4 cup chia seeds
2 tbs whole flaxseeds
1/4 cup pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds, can use other seed if you want)
1/4 cup crushed nuts of choice (I used pecan... caramel pecan?? mmm hmmm)
*1/4 cup coconut sugar
**1/4 cup brown rice syrup
1/4 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tbs coconut oil
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (enjoy life brand is dairy, nut & soy free)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
In a medium-large bowl, mix together first 7 ingredients. In a small pot over med-low, heat the coconut oil & add the coconut sugar. Once they are mixed well together add in the brown rice syrup. Bring to slow/light boil for about 3 min, remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
Mix hot carmel over the dry ingredients. Pour them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spread it all out evenly & place in the oven.
Bake for 30 min, stirring about every 10 min.
It will still be soft when you pull it out after the 30 min, but will harden up as it cools down. After it cools down, add in the chocolate chips.

*If you don't have, or don't want to use coconut sugar, unrefined brown sugar is a sub that will make it taste very similar. (and be cheaper)

**The brown rice syrup really gives it that caramely taste, but it will still be really good granola if you use a different liquid sweetener. Don't let it scare you off from making this. But next time you are at the store and see brown rice syrup (will be near agave and honey) get some!