Hello my almond butter loving friends. If you're new to HEAB, you may like to subscribe to my RSS feed or receive my posts via email. Thanks for reading!
Attune Foods sent me two free boxes of gluten free cereal. Thanks Attune! I received a box of brown rice cereal and a box of their corn flakes. The ingredients for each cereal could not simpler:
Brown Rice Cereal: Organic brown rice, Organic brown rice syrup, Sea salt.
Corn Flakes: Organic milled corn, Sea salt.
Truth be told, both cereals tasted kind of bland on their own. However, add a few raisins and some cinnamon?
Perfection In A Bowl
Oh, and since I didn’t feel like making any nut milk, I drowned my cereal in a diluted version of Sarena’s coconut cream simply by whisking together 2 TBSP coconut flour with 1/2 cup water. ‘Twas good. You should try it. Love how it gets all thick and creamy.
Besides eating several bowls of cinnamon raisin goodness, I tried each cereal in a recipe.
I used the corn flakes as a crunchy topping for a tuna noodle casserole. Into my baking dish went one box of prepared brown rice noodle mac & cheese from Trader Joe’s, frozen peas, two cans of tuna, and a layer of corn flakes. Loved the crunch the cereal added, but the casserole was missing something…perhaps a can of creamy soup. Was that mom’s secret?
Speaking of secrets, one of my friends once told me the best way to make chocolate chip cookies is to add Rice Krispies to the batter. Everyone loved her crunchy cookies, and so I decided to replace 1/2 cup of the rolled oats in this oatie recipe with 1/2 cup of the brown rice cereal.
Success and sooooo good!
Attune Foods has offered to send one reader a box of each cereal. To win, simply leave a comment below telling me your favorite secret ingredient.
Mine is butter. Butter makes everything better. 
{ 187 comments }
I am a huge fan of tempeh but that isn’t something that you are going to sneak by people very often, but my secret ingredient that goes into just about everything I make is simply rolled oats.
Put them in the food processor and you have oat flour, perfect for cookies and baking, breakfasts….the list goes on an one.
My secret ingredient is a guilty please… Texas Pete. I could put hot sauce on everything!
Cinnamon for sweet dishes, black pepper for savoury – they make everything better
PS- another friend just had a baby so I made your lactation cookies again. They are SO good! if only I could keep my husband’s hands off of them…
Brittany,
Yay, that makes me happy. I’m making a quadruple batch today. I just make them for everyone now, lactating or not.
loveeee using apple butter as a substitute in baking recipes. makes the final product more dense and naturally sweet. family and friends more often prefer the original recipes, but that just means more goodies for me!!
My absolute favourite secret ingredient has to be nutritional yeast! No one knows what it is and if I say it out loud they get grossed out…so I just keep it to myself and watch my friends and family swoon over that tasty umami flavaaah!
Love your blog!!! So glad I found it! I am on a gluten free (and also dairy-free while breastfeeding) diet, so I’d LOVE some new cereals to try. My new favorite secret ingredient is coconut oil. LOVE the health benefits and the hint of coconutty flavor. I’ve used it in the place of butter to make your basil carrots and they are to DIE FOR!!!
Glad you found me too, and yes, carrots or anything for that matter cooked in coconut oil is amazing!
I’m going to agree with you and go with butter. Yum. There’s nothing a little butter can’t fix!
My secret ingredient is apple sauce instead of oil in most baked goods. And just a hint of cinnamon in spicy dishes!!!
Mine is applesauce. Such an easy substitute for oil!!
Secret ingredient is probably apple butter – everyone thinks its some fancy high calorie sauce and i always use it instead of apple sauce to amp up the flavour
Raisins on cereal are my fav as well!
Thyme. I put it in everything.
Lately I have this thing with making faux food out of cauliflower, but here’s a funny story: Last Thanksgiving my generation of cousins were all together, and they made deviled eggs. I tried one and remarked that the pickle relish in it was chewy. But the truth was “Sarah got baconed.”
cinnamon and chili pepper. adds a little kick that no one can place!
Mmm! My favorite secret ingredient is ketchup. I could seriously eat it with anything. I’m realizing now that typing it out makes me sound extremely gross. Oh well!
I love a sprinkle of crushed chili peppers. Mmm.
Sriracha sauce! Although once you feel the burn, it really is no secret that it’s there.
You know mine is coconut flour! I love it in just about everything sweet! I need to try the cereal trick since I hate wet cereal, I bet that was nice and thick and creamy! YUM!
I’d have to say I enjoy sneaking cinnamon, nooch, and chia seeds into many of my meals!! So many nutritional benefits!!
Great ideas! I love finding new ways to make cereal more interesting. My favorite secret ingredient is whole wheat pastry flour- makes baked goods healthier while making them fluffy and soft as if you used white flour.
Hmmm…I love using banana in my baked goods- it really gets them sweet without needing too much added sugar.
Yum, I love you and your sneak in’s!
Cinnamon and vanilla are my sneak in’s when I’m baking cookies. It’s the one ingredient everyone tastes a bit of and is always asking me about because they love it.
Cooking regular stuff get’s cajun seasoning a LOT.
A little cinnamon can be a great secret addition to savory or sweet dishes!
Vinegar in vegan baked goods. It (in combination with baking soda) helps make huge muffins and cupcakes.
Chocolate chips are my secret ingredient. They are not necessarily a secret, but they are my secret “mom tool”. I have three kids and a couple dark chocolate chips have been my secret to getting them to do anything. Potty training? A few chocolate chips as a reward and they are trained in two days. Eating their veggies? A couple chocolate chips for dessert and they will lick their plate clean. I don’t feel as guilty either because a couple dark chocolate chips (high cocoa content) is much better for them than a bag of chips or a happy meal from Mc. Donalds.
Kellie,
I’ll have to keep that one in mind. Thx.
Agreed. I put chocolate-chips in everything…I even put them in cornbread once.
Totally normal right?
I love using almond extract as my secret ingredient. Except for a select few who hate the taste and can pick it out immediately, most enjoy the dimension of flavor when i add it in brownies or pancakes (or oatmeal, cake, muffins…pretty much everything!!).
In baking, my secret ingredients are ground flax and apple sauce! In the foodie blogworld these ingredients don’t seem very out the ordinary but to family and friends it’s always a huge surprise!
Everything is better with butter!!
oh this is a tough question! secret ingredient….hmmmmm i would have to say nutritional yeast or cinnamon. have a great day Heather!
My favorite secret ingredent is chia seeds — love the creamy texture it adds to my oatmeal!
my secret ingredient in my new fave fruit salad is balsamic vinegar!
I don’t know how secret it is, but I generally add a little bit of instant coffee to any chocolate baked good. I think it helps bring out the chocolatey deliciousness
I actually have a few secret ingredients I use quite often! But one of my favorites is tofu. I use tofu as a fat substitute in baking and you really cannot tell the difference at all. Once I made a “tofu mousse” pie made with nothing but tofu, chocolate and agave and nobody noticed it was healthy. Even my picky 5-year old cousin devoured it!
Cinnamon and protein powder
I put cinnamon in virtually every dish I make, sweet or savory. And I add protein powder to my oatmeal, cookies, energy bars, etc – it makes them much more filling, and pumps up the protein amount in the recipe!
Powdered milk (or soy milk mix) in sandwich bread!!! It gives a good sort of sweet flavor. Also, coconut water in chocolate cake!!!
Secret ingredient is cinnamon! I add it to all of my baked goods even if the recipe doesn’t call for it.
I loooove using sesame oil for everything lately. & White pepper too. Definitely two of my sneaky tricks not many people think about
I love using beans in baked goods.
I love using peanut butter when I’m baking. It’s healthier than oil and so yummy!
Cereal in oaties! I like it. Another thing to do with low-taste high-crunch cereal is cover it in chocolate. Really.
My secret? SALT. IN EVERYTHING.
My secret ingredient in my cooking is cumin! It makes everything taste absolutely delicious. Although I have a feeling I wouldn’t be putting it on the cereal!
hummus. i can eat annyythinngg if it’s covered in hummus
My favorite secret ingredient is pistachio butter! It always adds something extra that is totally unexpected.
My favorite secret ingredient is cinnamon. I add it to pancakes, oatmeal, baked goods, even stews and chili!
I puree veggies and put them into almost every dish I make! I have picky children and a picky husband, so this is how I get veggies into dishes. The one I like the most is pureed carrots. They blend in and make dishes colorful! Yum!
Mine is coconut in all forms (oil, butter, flaked, milk, cultured milk, cream, nectar) I use it in everything – I even use a blend of coconut oil and cocao butter as my lotion. I think it should be deemed a super food.
Yum! A new cereal, how exciting. I definitely need something new in my life right now. For sweets/desserts, you can never go wrong with peanut butter… (so good) and non sweets, fresh garlic, it Always adds flavor without overwhelming it like some herbs can, even the most bland dishes.
I use coconut oil in everything. It tastes so good.
Protein! Not any exact ingredient, but it keeps my insatiable husband fuller longer!
My fave secret ingredient is cinnamon! It makes everything better!
I love using pumpkin in baking and also throwing Chia into recipes.
Coconut oil is my fave secret ingredient, its so multi purpose and it tastes good as just a spread too.
My favorite secret ingredient would be cinnamon. It just adds a kick to about anything and everything!
You stole mine….shhhh its butter too! Kerrygold of course. #2 secret would be bacon fat…pastured pork of course. I love fat. Oh and cereal too!
FOr me it’s bananas! They add sweetness and moistness to everything.
By adding bananas to oatmeal, pancakes, breads, smoothies, etc. I can leave out any added sugar and it’s still just as sweet.
Sunny Seeds! (Haha, had to say it!)
I also like to use condiments of all kinds to jazz things up (including butter).
Coconut and and chocolate– why of course! My two favorite secret add-ins
!
Although when I was little and my mom and I would make cinnamon rolls, our “secret ingredient” would be chive mashed potatoes– made them creamy
My favorite secret ingredient is spinach. It’s pretty much tasteless yet has a great nutritional profile. I add it to everything for an extra nutritional punch.
try the ewethorn BR crispies with dried berries! its good. i actually add chia to it, milk, a little sunflower seed butter, and heat it up. Kind alike a twist on regular oatmeal.
My secret ingredient… Hm. I guess that would be garlic and lemon. Oh, and black beans in fudge and brownies!
My favorite secret ingredient is coconut oil… I put it in places that some believe it should not go…. but it helps hold things together and is great for supporting healthy gut flora.
My secret ingredient is anything spicy! I put red pepper flakes, cayenne, or Sriracha hot sauce on almost everything savory. I love my hot and spicy food!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE cinnamon – love it. I dump it in my oatbran, oatmeal, cookies, breads, applesauce, rhubarb sauce…yum, yum, yum.
But salt is really that magical little ingredient that brings out the flavor in everything!
)
pumpkin!
cinnamon and a bit of nutmeg makes everything awesome!
I love adding just a touch of granola to any plain cereal. It makes the entire bowl shine!
Almond extract. No one can ever figure out what makes my frosting so good. It’s almond extract. It’s wonderful in oats too, but a little goes a long way!
Apple sauce or pumpkin in cakey baked goods in place of the oil. Works every time!
Your cereal bowl with raisins looks wonderful, and you crispy chocolate cookies make me want to try one immediately.
My “secret” ingredient is cinnamon – in smoothies, on apple slices, and especially also in savory dishes.
For savory dishes, my “secret” ingredient is…tabasco! for sweet..hmm, perhaps cinnamon or honey.
My Secret ingredient in any baked goods is to replace half the oil with olive oil. You get some healthy fats in and it makes everything so moist!
“love!” (it makes everything taste better)
Hands down my secret ingrediant is vanilla. I add it to everything from hot chocolate to oatmeal to cereal . I love it so much just looking at that little bottle makes me smile.
My secret ingredients I use are quinoa flour… I just blend it up in my vitamix, and use it in place or with wheat flour. We get more protein, and kiddos and hubby are not wise to my ways, yet!
Hmmmm, it might have to be vanilla. Love vanilla
cinnamon & lemon juice are my 2 secrets! but not always together
I love using beans in baked goods. Black beans, white beans, chickpeas—you name it. You can never taste them, but you get a great moist texture plus protein and fiber! I hate the word “moist,” but when it comes to brownies and cake, it’s okay : )
Banana! It’s great for blending into dry cookie dough, mixing into a bowl of overnight oats or just spicing up any pudding!
Mine is cinnamon… ooo, or vanilla!
Just a little love.
Chipotle Tabasco sauce, makes everything so good!
Cinnamon is my secret ingredient!
I sneak flax, chia, and spinach into everything, and no one is ever the wiser
I have to agree with your secret ingredient, butter is perfection.
My secret ingredient in baked goods is avocado.
my secret ingredient for brownies is black beans, my husband and daughter have no idea!!
My favorite secret ingredient is canned pumpkin…i’m pretty sure you could sneak it into ANYTHING and it would only add to the deliciousness of the dish…plus, it adds a nutritional punch!
My fav secret ingredient has to be a tie between flax & chia seed! I put them in everything! yummy and nutritious!
oh, so many…spinach in smoothies, nutritional yeast, cashews for “cream sauce”…love secret ingredients!
My favorite secret ingredient is ground flax seed- I try to throw it in to my oatmeal and cereal bowls daily!
Secret ingredients? I have several, but I would have to go with honey and flaxseed as my two most commonly used ingredients!
My favorite secret ingredient is sugar. But there is nothing too secret about that.
I have always loved cooking, baking with, and using sugar. No shame there!
cocoa powder. it makes the world go round in my books!
Nutritional Yeast! Kicks all my salads, stir-frys, wraps, etc. up a notch!
Almond milk…you can hide it in anything.
My secret ingredient would be garlic powder. It gives everything extra flavor. That and butter.
Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk.. Makes everything taste better.. except for instant pudding which can be ugly…
Peanut Flour is my second favorite secret ingredient..
Well ok Splenda is probably my first.. honestly… hate away !!
flaxseed! and bananas. and cinnamon.
and fresh herbs..
i can’t choose just one!
oh i have so many secret ingredients, it just depends on what i’m making. almost any savory dish can benefit from either a bit of tamari or a splash of lemon (and butter!). all baked goods get lots of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt (oh yeah, and butter!)
I eat (mostly) everything with bananas!
Well, I guess it’s no “secret” ingredient, but man I can add peanut butter to ANYTHING!!!!!!! And I am LOVING the coconut cream. I went out and bought coconut flour just to make it and it did not disappoint. I keep finding new things to put it on top of. ha!
I add a teaspoon of blackstrap molasses to all my chocolate chip cookie recipes! It gives them a whole new depth of flavor that is simply amazing!
So my girls are very gracious, and will often say, “Mom this is so good! What’s in it?” And I tell them “love”. (Then they’re like, yeah, but what’ REALLY in it?:)
My secret ingredient is cinnamon .. I add it to everything!
my grandma used to add corn flakes or potato chips to her chocolate chip cookies…soooo good!
Chocolate but I don’t know if it is that big of a secret
my secret ingredient is avocado! i love using them in baking.
lately, either tahini or sunbutter. then, i am in love.
Stephanie,
Two of my favorites lately too.
My fav thing to add is smoked paprika. I have severe IBS/Colitis so I can’t use MANY fabulous herbs and spices. Smoked paprika seems to be the only one besides onion/garlic powders that doesn’t cause a trip to the E.R. Plus, it helps my healthy grilled meats to taste more like the N.C. bbq I grew up with.
I, too, have done the coconut cream “milk” with water! Isn’t it fabulous? I think I’d definitely need a bit more excitement in my cereal than plain corn flakes though
Hannah, yes, love the coconut flour milk!
I put killers in my cereal
milk is good too, but the secret is out on that one
I guess it’s not such a secret with my family, since they’re always like, “Nutritional Yeast on that?!” but my favorite ingredient is nutritional yeast. Love it on everything, especially mixed into hummus, and on veggies, popcorn, tofu, in seitan mixes, etc. YUM!
Applesauce!! I put it in everything i bake and everything turns out so moist
Plain yogurt…use to make muffins moist, as a substitute for sour cream or up the creaminess of tuna salad!
flaxseeds, chia seeds, applesauce, garbonzo or black beans, and garlic salt…just not all at once
A small palmful of chocolate chips added to a pot of chili!
Shannon C, really? I’ve added cocoa powder before, but never solid chocolate. Will have to try that!
Yep, really! It’s kind of the same concept as mole sauce (the kind pronounced mole-ay, not like I cook up tiny burrowing mammals in my chili, that’d be a REAL secret!)
blueberries, vinegar <3
umeboshi plum vinegar! – on veggies, salads, etc. salty and fruity – brightens the flavor of things. so good!
I wish I was enough of a cook to HAVE a secret ingredient. I’ll have to cop out and just go with “love.”
I love using bananas in my bowl of shredded wheat! It addst he perfect amount of sweetness!
Baby food! I sneak it into my kids’ (and husband’s) food sometimes, in addition to serving them real veggies of course
LOVE!
Yum , those oaties look good! My secret would just probably be sneaking beans in …like in desserts, in soups, in most anything!
Flax seed meal. It makes all of my baked goods taste amazing!
A “pinch” of salt…. it it helps bring out the goodness of everything else!!:-)cc
i love using bananas in place of butter or oil in a recipe!
nom nom nom
My favourite secret ingredient is any kind of nut butter!
Coconut oil–it is always the secret ingredient:)
Nutritional yeast for savory recipes, canned pumpkin for sweet. Plain and simple. Both get the job done though. Both add that lil’ extra somethin’ somethin’ that takes a recipe from ‘good’ to ‘wowza’
My secret ingredient is cinnamon. It makes everything better!
Secret ingredient: vanilla bean paste. Makes any cookie look fancy and taste a little extra vanilla-y!
My secret ingredient is cinnamon. I add it to almost everything. Sometimes just a dash, sometimes a spoonful, but it has never failed me! I love adding it to burgers!
cinnamon. i know it’s been said before but every time i add it to choco chip cookies people rave!
I’m getting some great ideas here – great question HEAB!
Well other than the obvious chocolate-chips, raisins or bananas(!),,,
I will say Maple Extract!!! So good! Not as sharp as vanilla – but sweeter. I also mix it in with yogurt, rolled oats, granola, nut butter, apple butter and blueberries – and cinnamon – and stir all together. So good
Secret ingredient——> Peanut butter. Maybe not so secret since I am more often seen with it in my hands than not!! Oh, and another, –> sweet potatoe puree from a baby food jar. So convenient for baking, smoothies, oatmeal, and to top a yogurt parfait!!!!
My favorite secret ingredient is definitely cinnamon. From sweet potatoes to pudding, it makes everything taste better.
I love real cocoa powder, cinnamon, and dark DARK brown sugar in baked goodies!
honey. i add it to everything, and it adds so much!
I love Attune Foods gluten-free cereals! I use the brown rice cereal in homemade bar recipes, and I love it with sliced banana and vanilla almond milk.
i have been looking for new cereals to try! love this review!
My secret “ingredient” is just plain and simple love in everything I make. Twas not too long ago pre- SAHM days where I despised the kitchen and everything in it. Now, with all of our crazy allergies, I have a newfound love of making my family happy and healthy. Even in my not-so-great outcomes, my sweet Bella always says “but you made them with love Mommy so they are good”. A sprinkle of love goes a long way.
Love!
Also lemon, I love lemon! Nootch, balsamic vinegar, and blended veggies, not all together, but I make use of them.
My favorite secret ingredient is Maple syrup. Maple syrup makes the world taste good – YUM!
Regards, Howard
My favorite secret ingredient is avocado
I will always find a way to incorporate them into any meal!
My secret ingredient is coconut oil. It gives an extra rich and delisciousness to my cookies
Cinnamon! Everything tastes better that way
Soul Seasoning….it is the best stuff in the world. (seasoning wise) and you can only get it at Winn Dixie. It’s hilarious.
I like to sneak shredded veggies (zucchini and carrots work great) into spaghetti and cassaroles. The kids never even notice.
My secret ingredient is McCormick’s steak seasoning. Even though we are a mostly veg household, I put steak seasoning in just about everything I cook, instead of salt and pepper. It’s delicious!
My two favorite secret ingredients are nutritional yeast and creole seasoning. They make ANYTHING taste good!
I spike Apple Pie with a shot (or two) of Amaretto.
Delicious! Other than that though, everything savory gets Adobo and everything sweet gets cinnamon.
My secret ingredient is turmeric! Its hard to hide but the flavor is superb.
My mom’s secret ingredient was definitely butter too! I know because whenever I put lots of it in anything it tastes like her cooking. I think for desserts her secret ingredient was brandy/sherry/etc!
Secret ingredients include applesauce, black beans, and avocado!!!
My secret ingredient is oats! I love it and add to everything, in place of breadcrumbs, meatloaf, make oat flour and use in souffle (it is amazingly good by the way). I have made some dishes using ground up oats in place of flour and it turned out even better than the original, everyone loves it and most people would never guess that I used oats!
Ana
My newest one is balsamic vinegar. I absolutely abhor all things vinegar, even the smell makes me gag but then I found balsamic, added a little honey, dijon, evoo, and seasonings and it was a beautiful thing.
HIMALAYAN PINK SEA SALT!
Curry. I don’t use it in everything but it is my secret ingrediant in chicken soup. No one can place it, but everyone loves it. It’s also great just slightly sprinkled on green beans… I’ve noticed that you rarely use Indian spices? It’s sooo good in stirf ry and stir fry is the best fix for day old rice!
My key leftovers-dinner is: leftover broccoli, diced up leftover chicken, left over rice, stir fried with garlic & onion, olive oil and garam masala. In the end I sprinkle dried cranberries. Good yes, but i have to use too toooo much oil to get the dish moist enough. I’ve been wanting to ask your advice on this for awhile!
My favorite secret ingredient is nutritional yeast. It makes everything better!
And I LOVE cornflakes so much! I’d love to try me a box of the Erewhon!
Butter makes everything better…sounds like something Paula Deen would say!
I like nutmeg! I add it to sweet and savory things…yogurt, cereal, chicken, pork. A little goes a long way and it makes people think…mmm what’s that nice flavor?
Kim,
I discovered fresh grated nutmeg 2 or 3 years ago and fell in love. A raw pie crust I made called for it, and I’ve been a fan ever since. Almost adds a lemony flavor. Mmm, so good!
flavor-infused oils! they are so fun to use! or wheat germ!
coffee in baked goods instead of water!
Alex,
I like it.
I think cinnamon is my favorite secret ingredient. It adds a great flavor to anything!
it is hard to chose only one. cinnamon is amazing and so is a little citrus (lemon, lime, orange), and even a touch of salt can make flavor explode
simple but splendid!
Count me out on the cereal contest but I love the idea of krispies in the oaties! Yum. I haven’t made oaties since I made them that first time but maybe I will make them again soon.
Garlic…seriously. All savory dishes. Fresh garlic, garlic puree, garlic powder, garlic salt. Is this why I am single?
Hmmm! My secret ingredient…to add a protein kick to my oatbran or hot cereal, I stir in mashed up tofu!
garlic powder does wonders!
It’s so cliche and hippie of me but tofu is amazing and can be used in so many ways, definitely my secret ingredient
My secret ingredient is any kind of nut butter, usual almond though, LOVE the fats!
nutritional yeast ..so good on so many things..my fave ny recipe is little egg muffins..muffin tin..350..chopped broccoli, eggs, a little 1/2 & 1/2, dash of hot sauce, sprinkle of salt and the ny. I know what’s for breakfast tomorrow
My girls love it on popcorn. Happy 4th y’all!
I hate to copy you but definitely butter. My friend puts a pat of butter in the center of a burger before he cooks it, and no joke… best. burger. ever.
Peanut butter!!!
My favourite baking ingredient is cardamom and saffron. I also love cooking with tumeric. So many great properties
cinnamon and vanilla add a great hint of taste to almost anything. i also like ground flax as a substitute for eggs. no one can tell the difference!
Cinnamon makes everything better. Both for sweet anD savory
I have been loving peanut flour in my recipes, and coconut cream concentrate that a friend shared with me. It’s awesome!
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