These spicy chocolate rice cracker treats are a result of my craving for Japanese chocloate covered rice crackers (Kaki-no-tane Choco). I first discovered Japanese chocolate covered rice crackers years ago, when Chi Chi’s mom (we call her Obaachan for Grandma), sent some to us from Japan as part of a care package. These crackers are not just any crackers – they are sweet, crunchy, covered in chocolate and … SPICY! These crackers literally just hit every favorite treat note for me. I also think these treats are perfect as Halloween party treats. (Perhaps they are a trick and a treat with their spicy kick!?)

Where’s an American girl going to get kaki-no-tane choco these days?

Spicy chocolate rice crackers (Kaki-no-tane Choco), are near impossible to find in the United States at the moment. (Have you tried to mail a package to or from Japan lately?) So, I’ve concocted a treat using Spicy Japanese Rice Crackers, chocolate and peanut butter. These little chocolate peanut butter balls are all of the things I love about the Japanese kaki-no-tane choco – they are sweet, crunchy, chocolatey and spicy.

柿の種 チョコ

Kaki-No-Tane Choco: Spicy Chocolate Rice Cracker

Japanese rice crackers with chocolate and peanut butter please

You can find Spicy Japanese Rice Crackers for these treat balls at any Japanese grocery store and also online. For this recipe I used Hapi’s Japanese Rice Crackers Chili Bits and Peanuts which are the easiest to find (but resulted in a less spicy treat). If you love a more spicy flavor, I would add shichimi togarashi to the mixture or use an extra hot kaki-no-tane.

Psst. These choco Japanese rice cracker clusters are vegan!

Since I don’t eat dairy, I always make my treats vegan. Chocolate treats are often made with milk chocolate. I am sure the original kaki-no-tane choco’s are made with milk chocolate. Perhaps someday I’ll find a way to make vegan kaki-no-tane choco. What do you think would this be a good business idea? Should I do it? Well… while we all wait for that business idea to drop, we can all make these delish vegan Kaki-no-tane Choco clusters anytime. Enjoy!

Spicy Chocolate Rice Cracker Treats

Recipe by BeckiCourse: Desserts, Treats & Snacks

Makes

20

balls

Assembly Time

10

Minutes

Chill in fridge

1

hour

Ingredients

• 2 Cups Japanese Rice Crackers Chili Bits and Peanuts

• 1/2 Cup all natural creamy peanut butter (no salt, no sugar added)

• 1/4 Cup Cacao or Cocoa Powder

• 2 tbsp brown sugar

• 1 tbsp coconut oil

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 1/4 tsp togarashi

• Chocolate Drizzle

• 1/4 C semi-sweet vegan chocolate chips

• 1/2 tbsp coconut oil

Directions

• In a large bowl mix peanut butter, cocoa powder, sugar, coconut oil, salt and togarashi in a bowl.
• Pour 1 cup of rice crackers into a bag and crush crackers into smaller pieces. Add crushed crackers and the 1 cup of un-crushed rice crackers into the peanut butter chocolate mixture. Mix well until all ingredients stick together evenly.
• Form 1 inch balls and place onto a parchment paper lined tray.
• To make chocolate drizzle, warm a double boiler up on medium heat. add chocolate and coconut oil. Stir constantly until melted into a chocolate sauce.
• Drizzle chocolate sauce over spicy rice cracker balls. Place in refrigerator for 1 hour until chocolate drizzle hardens.
• Store spicy chocolate rice cracker treats in refrigerator in a sealed container (that is, if you have any left over!)