Sunday, August 8, 2010

Peanut Butter Granola Bites


(above) Peanut Butter Granola Bites
It's hard to believe that school is already starting after two wonderful months of summer. To be honest, I'm kind of excited for school to start - I actually miss it and I can't wait for cross country season to start. Oh yeah, and I'll also be a senior in high school.
After seeing Joy the Baker's post on these granola bites, I just had to make them. These granola bites taste a lot like Quaker Chewy Granola Bars and might even be able to pass of as being healthy. They sound like the perfect pre-workout snack and maybe even breakfast. I customized these chewy granola balls by adding in some dessicated coconut and chocolate chips. I stirred in the chocolate chips when the granola mix was still warm, so there were swirls and gobs of chocolate throughout the granola bites. You could also use mini-chocolate chips and stir them in once the granola mixture has cooled off a bit so that they don't melt. Oh, and a helpful tip. Let the mixture come to room temperature for easy scooping.
(above) I used Rice Krispie cereal and unsweetened dessicated coconut.

(above) Combine butter, peanut butter and honey in a pot and warm it up on a stove.


(above) The warm peanut butter mixture is poured and mixed into the dry ingredients.

(above) I added in 3 tablespoons of chocolate chips into the granola mixture. I added them in when the mixture was still a bit warm, so most of them just melted into the granola.

(above) I used a cookie scoop to scoop out the granola mixture.

(above) I recommend scooping out the granola after it has firmed up a bit (around room temperature).

(above) Scoop out the granola bites on parchment paper.

(above) Transfer the chilled granola balls into mini-cupcake liners.

Peanut Butter Granola Bites
adapted from Joy the Baker
makes 24 balls
Ingredients:
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup natural peanut butter
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup cold cereal like Rice Krispies
1 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1/4 cup unsweetened dessicated coconut
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
Directions:
  1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir together the maple syrup or honey, peanut butter and butter. Heat until the butter is melted and the peanut butter is loosened.
  2. Combine cereal, oats and coconut in a medium bowl. Pour the warm peanut butter mixture over the dry ingredients and fold tom combine. Stir until all of the dry ingredients are moistened by the peanut butter mixture. Allow the mixture to cool a bit for easier scooping. Mix in chocolate chips if desired.
  3. Using a small scoop, scoop mixture onto a wax paper lined baking sheet. Press balls together with clean and damp fingers if they break apart a bit. Place in the fridge for about 15 minutes to harden and set. Place balls in cupcake liners and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

11 comments:

  1. How funny! I've seen granola bars on lots of blogs these past few days, and I was just getting ready to make some myself. Yours are very cute!

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  2. These look delicious! I've been thinking about making granola bars for awhile, but I like the idea of bite-size versions instead. Good luck with your senior year! It flies by fast.

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  3. so...here i am..i am "checking out" your blog....YOU HAPPY NOW?!?!?!? haha

    your scooper is pretty....:)

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  4. These are adorable! They look like a perfect on-the-go snack!

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  5. I love anything with peanut butter and having granola sounds healthy too! So count me in to making this soon, you have made it easy recipe for anyone to make!

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  6. these are too cute! Great for serving at a laid back dinner party for sure!

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  7. Oh man this looks delicious!
    Everything here looks so yummy! And your photographs are beautiful.
    I recently launched my own blog www.prettygoodfood.com I'd love for you to check it out and let me know what you think! Thanks and Happy Cooking!

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  8. These were really yummy -- with or without chocolate chips! They are really sticky to work with, though, so I definitely appreciated the wet hands tip. Thanks!

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  9. I made these last night in paper baking cups. They turned out really well. I did add a little coconut and some peanut butter, and they were FANTASTIC! I am giving them away as a little Holiday favor in Christmas tins. Thanks for the wonderful recipe, I'm sure it will become one of our favorites :)

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  10. I just made these for my son's preschool snack for tomorrow. We used almond butter instead of peanut butter. I also cut the coconut in 1/2 and substituted wheat germ for the remainder of the coconut. Also added cinnamon, some mini chocolate chips and raisins.

    YUM-O!!!

    Mindy
    MindyJBorer@Gmail.com

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  11. How many calories?

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