초록

A cereal bar comprising identifiable ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal pieces; and a carbohydrate binder combined with the cereal pieces, wherein the carbohydrate binder contains inulin is provided. In one embodiment, the cereal bar comprises added protein. A method of making a cereal bar is also provided.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A cereal bar comprising: ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal comprising:identifiable ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal pieces; anda carbohydrate binder combined with the cereal pieces, wherein the carbohydrate binder contains inulin and has a water activity between about 0.5 and 0.6, further wherein the cereal bar

1. A cereal bar comprising: ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal comprising:identifiable ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal pieces; anda carbohydrate binder combined with the cereal pieces, wherein the carbohydrate binder contains inulin and has a water activity between about 0.5 and 0.6, further wherein the cereal bar is a non-cooked cereal bar having a water activity in the range of about 0.35 to 0.55. 2. The cereal bar of claim 1 wherein the cereal pieces are puffed cereal pieces. 3. The cereal bar of claim 2 wherein the puffed cereal pieces are puffed rice cereal pieces. 4. The cereal bar of claim 2 wherein the puffed cereal pieces are selected from flakes, shreds, biscuits, rings, spheres, squares, rounds, triangles, hexagonals, tubes, oblongs, and combinations thereof. 5. The cereal bar of claim 1 wherein the cereal pieces and the carbohydrate binder are present in a ratio of about 1:1. 6. The cereal bar of claim 5 wherein the carbohydrate binder is a complex carbohydrate binder made from soy protein, fat, sweeteners, water and gelatin. 7. The cereal bar of claim 1 further comprising granola pieces. 8. The cereal bar of claim 1 further comprising a protein source. 9. The cereal bar of claim 8 wherein the protein source is a soy protein source. 10. The cereal bar of claim 9 wherein the soy protein comprises soy protein concentrate or soy protein isolate. 11. The cereal bar of claim 8 wherein the protein source is a milk protein source. 12. The cereal bar of claim 11 wherein the milk protein source comprises whole milk powder and non-fat milk powder. 13. The cereal bar of claim 8 wherein the protein source provides about 6 grams of protein. 14. The cereal bar of claim 13 wherein at least a portion of the protein source is provided with high protein rice pieces having a protein content of at least about 50%. 15. The cereal bar of claim 8 wherein the cereal pieces and the protein source are combined in a ratio of about 2:1. 16. The cereal bar of claim 1 further comprising a topping. 17. The cereal bar of claim 16 wherein the topping is a drizzle topping. 18. The cereal bar of claim 1 further comprising a flavoring. 19. The cereal bar of claim 18 wherein the flavoring comprises a savory flavor selected from meat, game, fowl, fish, dairy, barbecue, smoke, pepper, spicy, vegetable and combinations thereof. 20. The cereal bar of claim 18 wherein the flavoring comprises chunky pieces or additives. 21. The cereal bar of claim 20 wherein the additives are selected from nuts, nut pieces, fresh fruits, dried fruits, fruit products, candies, marshmallows, marbits, chocolates, chocolate products, and combinations thereof. 22. The cereal bar of claim 18 wherein the flavoring is a sweet flavor selected from chocolate, vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, lemon, malt, cinnamon, graham, coconut flavors, mint, and combinations thereof. 23. A cereal bar comprising a non-cooked cereal bar having a water activity in the range of about 0.35 to 0.55 and made from identifiable ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal pieces, the cereal pieces combined with rice, a protein source and a carbohydrate binder, wherein the carbohydrate binder contains inulin. 24. The cereal bar of claim 23 wherein the carbohydrate binder is a carbohydrate-gelatin binder comprised of fat, syrups, glycerins, sugars, gelatin and water. 25. The cereal bar of claim 24 wherein the gelatin and water is combined in a ratio of about 4:1 to form hydrated gelatin, the hydrated gelatin having a substantially translucent appearance in the cereal bar. 26. The cereal bar of claim 23 having a total fiber percentage of about 5 to 10%. 27. The cereal bar of claim 23 further comprising high protein rice pieces. 28. The cereal bar of claim 27 wherein the high-protein rice pieces comprise about 7.5 to 12%, by weight, of the final product. 29. The cereal bar of claim 27 wherein the high protein rice pieces are extruded rice pieces about two (2) to eight (8) mm in diameter, with a density ranging from about 10.7 to 29 g/100 cc. 30. The cereal bar of claim 29 wherein the extruded rice pieces have a density of about 18 to 23 g/100 cc. 31. The cereal bar of claim 23 wherein the carbohydrate binder has a water activity between about 0.5 and 0.6. 32. A method of making a non-cooked cereal bar comprising: adding inulin to a carbohydrate binder; andcombining identifiable ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal pieces with the carbohydrate binder to produce a cereal bar having a water activity in the range of about 0.35 to 0.55. 33. The method of claim 32 wherein the cereal bar has a total fiber percentage of about 5 to 10%. 34. The method of claim 32 wherein the binder contains less than 30% by weight of fat. 35. The method of claim 32 wherein the identifiable cereal pieces are made from a grain-based dough. 36. A product made according to the method of claim 32. 37. The method of claim 32 wherein the carbohydrate binder has a water activity between about 0.5 and 0.6.