Puffed Wheat Squares (Printable Version)

# What You'll Need:

→ Base Ingredients

01 - 8 cups puffed wheat cereal
02 - ½ cup unsalted butter
03 - 1 cup light corn syrup
04 - 1 cup granulated sugar
05 - ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
06 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

# Step-by-Step Directions:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, measure out 8 cups of puffed wheat cereal and set it aside.
02 - In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Once melted, add the corn syrup, granulated sugar, and cocoa powder. Stir constantly until the mixture comes to a boil. Let it boil for about 2 minutes without stirring.
03 - Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Be careful as the mixture may bubble up.
04 - Immediately pour the hot syrup over the puffed wheat cereal. Stir with a large spoon until all the puffed wheat is coated with the syrup.
05 - Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper. Transfer the puffed wheat mixture to the pan and press down firmly and evenly.
06 - Allow the puffed wheat squares to cool completely at room temperature, about 60 minutes. Once cooled, cut into squares and serve.

# Helpful Notes:

01 - Ensure that the puffed wheat is well-coated with the syrup mixture for evenly flavored squares.
02 - Press the mixture firmly into the pan to avoid crumbly squares.
03 - Line your pan with parchment paper for easy removal and cleanup.
04 - Store the squares in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
05 - Customize the recipe by adding in mix-ins like nuts or dried fruit if desired.