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Tricks Cereal

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Fruity, Flavorful Raw Gluten-Free Tricks Cereal with chopped fresh yummy strawberries

~ raw, vegan, gluten-free ~

No-Trix (tricks) here!  When I set out to create this cereal, I wasn’t trying to mimic any other cereal; I had no intention of making it taste like anything in particular, other than de-lic-ious! But while it was dehydrating the cereal and its aroma was escaping my pantry… it smelt… fruity.  I couldn’t wait.

The next morning I pulled it out of the dehydrator and set it out on the countertop to cool.  Bob walked by and snatched a piece. Bob walked by again and snatched another piece… I had decided I better snag a photo and yield amount before he wore a path in the wood floor.

As I was getting it ready to take a picture, I popped one in my mouth.  It tasted like… what did it taste it like… I know this taste… I have tasted it before… “Bob, does this cereal taste familiar to you, maybe like Trix Cereal?”  He agreed, it tasted just like it.  It doesn’t look anything like it, but it sure is scrumptious.

I did a little research on Trix Cereal.  When it was introduced in 1955 by General Mills, it was composed of more than 46% sugar!  The original cereal included three colors: “Orangey Orange,” “Lemony Yellow,” and “Raspberry Red.”   Sort of odd that I used apples and strawberries, so opposite of the GM version, yet it tastes so close. Hmm.

Anyway, as I read on, my eyes drifted over this write-up from their site, “Fruity flavors and calcium make Trix® a fun, healthy way to start the day. Trix cereal is not only a good source of calcium, but it also provides 11 other essential vitamins and minerals, and 12 grams of whole grain* in every serving. It’s a cereal with the taste kids love, and the goodness moms love to serve.”  (source)  I did more research; I wanted to see what they used to make it. They used 37 different ingredients;

Ingredients (37):  Corn Meal, Corn Flour, Sugar, Corn Syrup, Canola Oil and/or, Rice Bran Oil, Corn Starch Modified, Corn Starch, Salt, Guar Gum, Gum Arabic, Corn Syrup High Fructose, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Trisodium Phosphate, Red 40, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Other Color Added, Baking Soda, Sodium Citrate, Flavor(s) Natural & Artificial, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Zinc,Iron, Vitamin C, BHT, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6, Vitamin D, Wheat Starch Freshness Preserved By, Vitamin aB, Vitamin aB, Vitamin A Palmitate (source)

I am not a mom, but I am a wife who loves to feed her husband, and I don’t think that I would feel so good serving this cereal to my husband.  The version that I made below, well now that I can get on board with that.  Enjoy.

Ingredients:

Yields 2 cups cereal squares

Preparation:

  1. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine almond pulp, applesauce, date paste, vanilla, and salt.  Mix until everything is well combined.  Then hand mix in the strawberries.
  2. Spread the batter out on the teflex sheet that comes with the dehydrator.
    • You can also use parchment paper, but to avoid sticking, do not use wax paper.
  3. Spread 1/4″ thick.  Square up the edges and then score into bite-sized pieces. During the drying process, it will shrink up just a little.  I used a long metal ruler for scoring purposes.
  4. Dehydrate at 145 degrees for 1 hour, then reduce to 115 (F) degrees for 8-10 hours or until dry.
  5. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 weeks or in the freezer for 1 month.

Culinary Explanations:

  • Why do I start the dehydrator at 145 degrees (F)?  Click (here) to learn the reason behind this.
  • When working with fresh ingredients, it is essential to taste test as you build a recipe.  Learn why (here).
  • Don’t own a dehydrator? Learn how to use your oven (here). I do, however, honestly believe that it is a worthwhile investment. Click (here) to learn what I use.

25 thoughts on “Tricks Cereal

  1. Alta says:

    Amie Sue, did you mix the strawberries into the batter, or do you use them later in the cereal?

  2. Alta says:

    also, I’m wondering if you could use almond butter instead of the almond past?

  3. Mary Beth says:

    I don’t have a dehydrator, yet….any advice on this recipe using an oven on a low setting?

    I love your recipes! They’ve been so helpful in making food that my daughter can eat, since she has numerous food intolerances. I have a really hard time getting breakfast in her before she’s off to school in the morning and I’ve not been able to find ANY cereal acceptable in her diet, but this one looks promising, except the dehydrator part.
    Any comments would be apprecitated! Thank you!!!

    • amie-sue says:

      Good morning Mary Beth,

      I am sorry to hear about your little having to deal with so many food intolerances. May I ask what she can’t eat? Maybe I can help you with some breakfast ideas. Just a thought. Regarding using the oven for these…. I never use the oven for my raw recipes so I can’t for sure how it will turn out. My suggestion is to set the oven on the lowest setting possible and keep the door cracked while baking. Then keep an eagle on them until done. If you try it, I would love to hear how it goes. Blessings, amie sue

      • Mary Beth says:

        Thanks! You are so kind! The list is pretty long (40+ items) and she is only 6. In this recipe she can’t have almond or vanilla, but I will sub with pulp from walnut and pecan milk and leave the vanilla out. I tried a raw raspberry/pecan milk chia pudding this morning sweetened with some coconut granules and she actually ate probably 1/2 cup…celebrating a small victory!

        • amie-sue says:

          Oh bless her heart Mary Beth! To hear such things really saddens my heart. I have a hard enough time wrapping my head around why as adults we all seem to be running into so many allergens… but when I hear about little ones suffer, that just frustrates me to no end.

          Can she have any type of yogurt? Cashew based? Coconut based? If so, creating breakfast parfaits might bring a smile to her face. You could layer it with a form of yogurt, chia gels or fresh fruits and perhaps a nut crumble. Even layering with blended mango, which makes an amazing pudding would great.

          Or how about making banana wraps and filling them with a nut butter and raisins?

          I realize now that I could on and on, but without really knowing all of what she can or can’t have, I don’t want to waste your time. If you want further help you can always email me at [email protected] and we can discuss in more detail or if you ever find a recipe, whether mine or someone else’s that you want to convert to her way of eating and need help, never hesitate to ask. I will do my best to help. Have a great weekend, amie sue

  4. Janice says:

    What a fantastic use of almond pulp! Thanks Amie Sue!

    • amie-sue says:

      You bet Janice. :) I really enjoy using nut pulps in recipes. It really offers a great texture and is lower in fat. Have a great weekend, amie sue

  5. kate says:

    this looks like a fun recipe…going to make the applesauce fresh, in the vitamix. i’m sure that will work fine, don’t you think? and might add a few spices as well. thank you.

  6. Wow – again. Sharing on Fb right now.

  7. I am making this right now :).. how long does it stay crunchy in the milk?

    • amie-sue says:

      How did it turn out Jenetta? It held up well to the nut milk… still had good texture right down to the last bite. :) Keep me posted. amie sue

      • It turned out really good.. but, lol. I don’t really think it tastes like Trix ( but that may be a good thing!!)

        My girls liked it a lot.

        I am thinking of chocolate, orange, honey, cinnamon and lemon versions.. :)

        • amie-sue says:

          Hi Jenetta,

          It must be our taste buds. lol Although, as you know ingredients can taste different each time you make a recipe due to the freshness of what you use to make it. Every single ingredient varies. I know almonds tastes different from brand to brand. Applesauce… depends if you used jarred or fresh and what apples where used… on and on… you know what I am talking about.

          BUT glad you enjoy it regardless. :) The main blessing here is that it already got your creative mind going to try other versions. I love that! Many blessings Jenetta… amie sue

  8. rebecca cook says:

    You have the most beautiful website and delicious healthy looking food. Thank you

  9. Barbara says:

    This looks so delicious! Can I replace the strawberries with something else?
    Thank you for sharing all this wonderful recipes!!

    • amie-sue says:

      Of course you can Barbara… blueberries, strawberries, huckleberries, blackberries, apples, just about any fresh fruit should work. Let me know if you try something else and how it turned out. Have a great day, amie sue :)

  10. Michelle says:

    Hi Amie-Sue,

    When printing your recipes, the highlighted ingredients don’t print out. I am wondering if anyone else is having this problem?

    Thanks! Michelle

    • amie-sue says:

      Hi Michelle, I haven’t had anyone else report that. I will try on my end and see what it does. I will get back to you. amie sue

  11. Sharon says:

    Hi AmieSue…again, you are the master of raw food “trix”. I, too, loved those sweetened cereals and have avoided for many years. Well, now with this recipe and your peanut butter cereal recipe, I combine them in my bowl and get my most favorite “mock up”…Captain Crunch with Crunchberries…thanks for contributing to all the fun I am having!!! You are a muse for me!

    • amie-sue says:

      lol Sharon… Your combination of the two cereals sounds delightful and darn you! You are making me hungry. hehe I am so thrilled that you are having fun throughout the process. I sure appreciate hearing from you. Many blessings… amie sue

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