Close your eyes. Let’s go back to childhood. Pour yourself a heaping bowl of Cocoa Puffs, and turn on the Saturday morning cartoons. PURE BLISS! Slap back to reality where we’re a little more health conscious and aware of what we’re shoving in our mouth. These homemade cocoa puffs will fill your heart with joy minus the junk. Just 4 ingredients!!
A Little History Lesson
Cocoa Puffs, the popular chocolate-flavored cereal, was first introduced by General Mills in 1956. The idea was to create a fun, tasty breakfast option for kids that combined the delicious taste of chocolate with the convenience of cereal. They wanted something that would stand out on grocery store shelves and make breakfast time exciting for children.
The star of Cocoa Puffs is its mascot, Sonny the Cuckoo Bird, who first appeared in 1962. Sonny is always “cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs,” showcasing the cereal’s irresistible appeal. This clever marketing helped Cocoa Puffs quickly become a household favorite. The cereal’s rich chocolate flavor and playful advertisements captured the hearts of kids and parents alike, making it a lasting success in the breakfast aisle.
However, the ingredients are less than stellar, and it’s actually pretty sad that such a cereal was created specifically for children as a “good” option for starting the day.
Let’s take a look at the ingredients list:
WHOLE GRAIN CORN, SUGAR, CORN MEAL, CORN SYRUP, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, CANOLA OIL, CARAMEL COLOR, FRUCTOSE, SALT, REFINER’S SYRUP, BAKING SODA, NATURAL FLAVOR. VITAMINS AND MINERALS: TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, CALCIUM CARBONATE, VITAMIN C (SODIUM ASCORBATE), IRON AND ZINC (MINERAL NUTRIENTS), A B VITAMIN (NIACINAMIDE), VITAMIN B6 (PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE), VITAMIN B1 (THIAMIN MONONITRATE), VITAMIN A (PALMITATE), VITAMIN B2 (RIBOFLAVIN), A B VITAMIN (FOLIC ACID), VITAMIN B12, VITAMIN D3.
Not great. Thankfully, we’re a bit more educated on things today, and there are so many creative recipes that recreate childhood favorites minus the junky ingredients.
Homemade Cocoa Puffs Recipe
I am not lying when I say you are going to FLIP over this recipe. It is so legit, absolutely delicious. And just 4 ingredients!! I’m convinced this recipe came straight from Heaven.
Lily Payen is the genius behind the recipe. Please check out her Instagram reel below to watch her make them.
Now let’s make some amazing homemade cocoa puffs!!
4 Simple Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/2 cup natural peanut butter (or any nut butter)
- 1 cup flour
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Instructions:
- 1. Set your oven to preheat at 325°F (163°C).
- 2. In a bowl, combine the maple syrup and peanut butter, stirring until well mixed.
- 3. Gradually incorporate the flour and cocoa powder, mixing until the mixture starts to come together and takes on a crumbly texture.
- 4. Gather the crumbly dough with your hands, pressing it together to form a cohesive dough. If the dough seems too dry and isn’t coming together, add a small amount of water, being cautious not to make it too sticky.
- 5. Divide the dough into 8 equal parts, rolling each into a thin log. Alternatively, you can break off small pieces of dough.
- 6. Cut each log into small sections and roll each section into a marble-sized ball. You may need to press the dough together with your fingers.
- 7. Repeat this process for all the dough. Arrange the dough balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 10 minutes, or until the balls are firm to the touch. Allow them to cool completely before serving. They will be soft when they come out of the oven but will become harden as they cool.
Click the video below to watch Lily from feedingtinybellies whip this up in real time!
Please ‘SHARE’ to pass on this yummy recipe to a friend or family member!
2 thoughts on “Homemade Cocoa Puffs WITHOUT THE JUNK (Just 4 Ingredients!!)”