Thursday, June 14, 2012

Granola Bites

Nate and I recently thought we’d try this thing where we eat better. We don’t eat horrible.  We only eat junk food on the week-ends.  We do, however, eat an okay amount of packaged products.  We’re slowly transitioning to a more cleaner way of eating. 

We both like granola bars.  I eat a lot of them.  I decided to be a hippy and research making my own.  By making my own, I am aware of all of the ingredients in them. I like that.

I think I have finally perfected the art of granola bar making.  Well, I make bites. I like bit sized things.  They trick my brain into think I’m eating more.

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My food photography still amazes me.

These bites are so good that I will no longer buy granola bars.  I make these at least once a week.  It’s a slight obsession.

Want to make your own delicious from scratch granola bites? I knew you did.

Here’s what you’ll need:

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Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 C. quick oats
  • 1/2 C. crisp rice cereal
    • I used Rice Krispies because I need to finish the box.  A less sugary option will be my next purchase.
  • 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
    • You will probably want a little more if you are using a non-sugary rice cereal.
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 C. canola oil
  • 1/4-1/2 C. honey
    • This varies every time I make it.
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla
  • 1/2 C. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, raisins, M&Ms, whatever you like!

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350.  I always forget to preheat my oven. I wish my oven could read my mind.  That would be amazing.

Mix together all ingredients except for the chocolate chips.  You want the mixture to be well mixed.  The oats will start to clump a little.  If your mixture seems to dry, you can add more honey or oil.  I prefer adding more honey. It keeps the bites from being too greasy….like my hair currently.  Mmmm, appetizing.

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Once the oats are well mixed.  Add in the tasty stuff.  I’m a fan of Nestle’s Chunks.

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Grease a mini-muffin tin.  I use cooking spray. 

Scoop the mixture into the muffin tin.  I usually fill each one to the top using a cookie scoop.

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Bake in the oven for 13-14 minutes.  You want the tops to be lightly golden brown.  (If you cook the bites too long, they will be dry.  If you don’t cook them long enough, they will fall apart.  Honestly, they will taste delicious no matter what.)

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Seriously.  When is the Food Network going to hire me as their photographer?

Pop out the bites and store in an air tight container.  My bites don’t last long.  These things are so stinking good. 

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Any fellow hippies making their own granola out there?  Any other good granola recipes? 

24 comments:

  1. These look amazing. My sister makes granola all the time and it is delicious! Can you ship some of those up here for breakfast this morning? I'm hungry now.

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  2. they look awesome! i think my kids and i will try these. :)

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  3. I'm a granola-making-hippie... which reminds me that I should make a new batch soon. I love me some granola bars and I'm always too lazy to eat breakfast before I go to work (and then typically buy a giant cinnamon roll for breakfast). I think if you use the store brand rice krispies, there's less sugar in them.

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  4. Yum! I need to make some of these - pretty sure I have all of the ingredients at home to do so.

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  5. Those look so good! I'm a big fan of granola bars, and I love knowing what goes into them instead of just blindly buying a box. Plus, I'm sure these end up being cheaper!

    I haven't made my own granola yet, but I do make a good trail mix. Here's my recipe:
    http://www.examiner.com/article/pumpkin-seed-trail-mix-has-it-all-sweet-salty-crunchy-and-healthy

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  6. I might need to make these, although we leave on vacation tomorrow. Do you think they travel well? ;) They look delicious!

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  7. I keep flip flopping between if it is worth it to make my own granola bars/bites. Your recipe looks so stinking easy. I just might try it.

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  8. I might have to try making those. I make my own granola bars before but they turned out really hard and I didn't like them. Your recipe sounds like it would taste so much better!

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  9. Yum! I thought about making something like these for a road trip to FL he have planned for August.

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  10. All righty, I'm going to try these. I've tried SO many granola bar recipes and they just never live up to the storebought ones. If you say these are good, I believe you, because a pharmacist who self-medicates with Skittles surely cannot be wrong about the tastiness level of granola bars.

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  11. Those look good. I have made granola bars in the past, and I think I need to make some more =) They are so much better than store bought ones!

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  12. Ooh..I love granola bars, and these look so good!! I will be heading out to get these ingredients very soon, can't wait to try it out.

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  13. I say quit your career and sell granola! Looks great!

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  14. I am going to try them this weekend. My husband will go ga ga over them. The little muffin tin is my best purchase in my kitchen.

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  15. Ooo yum! I eat a granola bar everyday with lunch, but they can be expensive! Any idea on how many calories the homemade ones have since the store ones are 100?

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  16. Those look yummy! I am a fan of the granola bar. Maybe I'll try these someday.

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  17. These look amazing. I wonder how coconut oil would do instead of canola oil? I just started making my own protein bars, which makes me feel pretty awesome/hardcore.

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  18. I love the idea of the bites. I just made homemade granola bars today, too. I made them in a 9x13 pan and Ryan has already eaten half of them. Crazy!

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  19. What's next, hippy? Patchouli? Seriously though, they look delicious. I wouldn't mind putting on my caftan, burning some incense, and indulging in some right now.

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  20. Yum! I might have to try this!!! :) I for one LOVE your food photography. :)

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  21. I'm Cindy's sister and I'm literally eating my homemade granola right now. My hubby was making fun of me because I was out of town for three days and missed my granola. I also missed him, but this granola is a must - have.

    4c old fashioned oats
    1c almonds
    1/2c coconut flakes
    3T toasted wheat germ (optional)
    3T flax seed (also optional)
    a little cinnamon

    heat on the stove:
    1/4c oil
    1/4c. honey
    a big spoonful of peanut butter
    splash of vanilla
    splash of maple syrup

    Mix all together and bake until toasty. My oven temp and lenth change every time, as do my measurements. But it's always tasty. The peanut butter makes it! I need to go find some of those chocolate chunks though, yummm!

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  22. I actually do want to make these! My boys love granola bars, and these would be the perfect size for the little guy. :)

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  23. We have been slightly obsessed with a recipie floating around cyber-space called "energy bites". I think it is time we try something new. These look good.

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  24. Tasty! My homemade granola is looser (I put it on top of my yogurt and fruit each morning), but I'd been wanting to try making granola bars. I'll have to give yours a shot!

    Here's my recipe:
    http://www.tatumgreatindoors.blogspot.com/2011/07/great-indoors-granola.html

    Erin @ The Great Indoors

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