Puffed Wheat Squares
Puffed wheat cereal bound with a boiled mixture of brown sugar, syrup, butter and cocoa, pressed into a tin and cut into squares. A Prairie potluck classic.
Method
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Line a 23 cm square tin with parchment paper and butter the paper. Put the puffed wheat in a very large bowl.
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Put the sugar, syrup, butter, cocoa and salt in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the butter melts and the mixture is smooth.
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Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Take off the heat and stir in the vanilla.
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Pour the hot mixture over the puffed wheat and fold quickly with a large spoon until every piece is coated.
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Tip into the tin and press down firmly and evenly with a buttered spatula or the back of a spoon.
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Chill for 1 hour, until firm. Lift out of the tin and cut into 16 squares.
Chef’s Tips
- Boil for only 2 minutes. A longer boil makes the syrup set hard, and the squares turn into toffee.
- Work fast once the syrup is on the cereal. It sets as it cools and is hard to mix.
- Press the mixture down firmly. Loose squares crumble when they are cut.
Pairing Suggestions
- A glass of cold milk
- A cup of coffee
- Fresh strawberries
Storage & Reheating
Keep in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days, layered between parchment paper.
Common questions
How long does Puffed Wheat Squares take to make?
About 10 minutes of hands-on work — 5 minutes of preparation and 5 minutes of cooking — plus 1 hour of Chilling, so allow 1 hour 10 minutes from start to finish. The recipe serves 16.
What are the key tips for making Puffed Wheat Squares?
Boil for only 2 minutes. A longer boil makes the syrup set hard, and the squares turn into toffee. Work fast once the syrup is on the cereal. It sets as it cools and is hard to mix. Press the mixture down firmly. Loose squares crumble when they are cut.
What should I serve with Puffed Wheat Squares?
A glass of cold milk; A cup of coffee; Fresh strawberries.
Is Puffed Wheat Squares suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Puffed Wheat Squares?
About 128 kcal per serving, with 1 g protein, 22 g carbohydrate and 4 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Nutritional Highlights
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.