Chocolate Crackles

Party food is one of my crusades in life ... why do we need every artificial colour on offer with tons of sugar. All it creates is madness, with kids having hyperactive episodes followed by tears and tantrums! Gee that sounds like a good idea!

I was shocked when I took my daughter to her first birthday party ... the table was groaning in bowls of lollies, chips flavoured with every form of MSG, cakes covered in the rainbow of artificial colours and to drink was everything but water! We could not find a piece of fruit lurking anywhere on the table!

Chocolate crackles

I know that some treats are probably OK but this was the extreme ... my kids are quite used to my rants by now and often walk into a party and declare at the top of their lungs ... "where is the fruit?" and "oh no the sausages are covered in red skins, Yukky". Very proud yet quite embarassing moments all rolled into one.

So over time I have come up with my version of party food that we can all tolerate and enjoy without the price of disaster!

I usually serve fruit plates, homemade popcorn, plain Smith crisps or plain corn chips, cupcakes (gluten free) and chocolate crackles. I offer mini water bottles or real juice poppers. Everyone is happy, there are no major tantrums and I end the day not stressed out from hyped up kids!  Win win!!

Chocolate Crackles

makes 12

Ingredients

3 cups of brown rice puffs

1/3 cup brown rice syrup or coconut syrup

2 tablespoons of cacao powder

1 tablespoon of water

1 teaspoon of vanilla essence

Method

1. combine coconut syrup, cacao powder and water in a saucepan and heat on low and stir until combined, remove from heat

2. add vanilla essence to the liquid

3. in a large bowl place all the rice puffs and combine with liquid

4. mix well making sure all the puffs are coated

5. spoon into patty pan cases (making sure they are full as the mixture shrinks)

6. bake in 150oC oven for 15 minutes

7. Store once cold in an airtight container

Serving Suggestions

Allow to reach room temperature before serving as they will go crunchy when cool.