Process for the preparation of heat treated cereal based food products

A process for preparation of a heat-treated cereal-based food product, the process comprising:

• forming a wet mixture of water, bulking agent, dairy protein, reducing sugar, and fat;
• subjecting the wet mixture to a temperature between 100° C. and 150° C. under a pressure between 2 bars and 7 bars for a time between 5 minutes and 20 minutes to produce a pre-reacted fraction;
• combining the pre-reacted fraction with a cereal-based ingredient to form a cereal-based food preparation, wherein the pre-reacted fraction is added to the cereal-based ingredient in an amount between 3 and 30 dry w/w of the cereal-based food preparation;
• and
• subjecting the cereal based food preparation to heat treatment and drying to form the heat-treated cereal-based food product.