Name: Recipe for Low-Calorie Crispy Sesame Treats
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: None
Total time: 2 hours, 15 minutes—includes chilling
Yield: 36 (1 square) servings
Cuisine: Sweets
Ingredients: 1 crispy brown rice cereal; 1 raw hulled sesame seeds; 2/3 shredded coconut; 1/2 quick oats; 1/2 cacao nibs; 2 chia seeds; 3/4 old-fashioned peanut butter or almond butter; 1/2 maple syrup; 1 vanilla; 1/2 salt

Stack of three crispy sesame treats on white surface

Sweets Flavorful and Nutritious

Crunchy with seeds and full of flavor, this sweet treat is a crowd pleaser. And sesame seeds are nutrition powerhouses: high in protein, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and selenium. Peanut butter and almond butter work equally well in this recipe; it’s best if the nut butter isn’t stiff at room temperature. If the nut butter contains salt, you may want to add less to the dish. After pressing the mixture into the pan, be sure to cut it into squares before placing the pan in the fridge. Once chilled, transfer squares to a sealed container and store in the refrigerator or freezer.

Recipe courtesy of

Heather Leno

Prep Instructions

Yield: 36 (1 square) servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: None
Total Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes—includes chilling

Recipe Ingredients

1 cup crispy brown rice cereal
1 cup raw hulled sesame seeds
2/3 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup quick oats
1/2 cup cacao nibs
2 tablespoons chia seeds
3/4 cup old-fashioned peanut butter or almond butter
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt

In a mixing bowl, combine first six ingredients.
In a separate bowl, mix last four ingredients. Combine with dry ingredients; it may be easiest to use latex gloves for this step.
Press firmly into an 8x8-inch pan, smoothing the top. To keep the mixture from sticking to your hands, lay a piece of plastic wrap on top of the mixture while pressing it down.
Cut mixture into squares. Cover, chill for about two hours, and serve.

NOTE: Whole grain crispy brown rice cereal can be found in health food markets.