Homemade School Snacks
Julie Green and Keen
5/10/2018
6
It is so important to keep my kids stomachs from growling, especially while they are at school learning. Today Liam and Hannah helped me make some granola bars for them to keep in their backpacks and pack in lunches. Making granola bars is a fun and easy way to make sure there are good nutrients to keep your kids focused all day long.
Here are three easy granola bars that we made today. I promise, they are kid friendly!
Ingredients-
• 1 ½ cup rolled outs
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• 1 cup walnuts- food processed into small pieces
• 2 cups pitted dates
• ¾ cup cocoa powder
• ¼ cup natural peanut butter
• ¼ cup agave nectar
Instructions-
• Use a food processor and process walnuts until they are in small pieces, add the cocoa powder and process to combine together. Remove and set aside.
• Process dates until they are small chucks and have a dough like consistency then add the walnut and cocoa mixture and process.
• In a large mixing bowl, empty the mixture and add the oats and nuts and stir to combine thoroughly.
• In a small skillet warm the agave nectar and peanut butter on medium heat until it is pourable and pour over the mixture. Mix thoroughly, I like to use my hands.
• Spread in a lined small pan to your desired thickness and press down to compact. Freeze for about 15-20 minutes then chop into bars.
• Store in the freezer or fridge. Enjoy your brownie granola bars!
Ingredients-
• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1 cup rice krispies
• ½ cup pretzels, chopped
• ¼ cup mini M&M’s
• 4 tbsp. butter
• ¼ cup honey
• ¼ cup peanut butter
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Instructions-
• Mix the oats, rice krispies, pretzels, and mini M&M’s in a large bowl.
• In a medium saucepan melt the butter, honey, peanut butter and brown sugar and bring to a boil then simmer on medium for about 2-3 minutes constantly stirring. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Pour the mixture over the oat mixture and stir together until everything is well combined.
• Pour the mixture in an 8x8 inch lined pan and press and pack everything down. Sprinkle extra M&M’s if desired and refrigerate for about 30 minutes, remove and cut.
• Store in the fridge. Enjoy!
Ingredients-
• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• ½ tsp. baking soda
• ½ tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• ½ cup honey
• Any dried fruit or chocolate chips you might have on hand
Instructions-
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F
• Mix all the ingredients and press into a greased 11X13 pan. It will be crumbly but press down really hard until a little resemblance of dough forms. Bake for about 20 minutes until the edges are lightly browned.
• Let cool and cut into bars. Enjoy!
These are my “growling” fixes. What are your favorite granola bars?
Go Green and Stay Keen,
Julie
Here are three easy granola bars that we made today. I promise, they are kid friendly!
Chocolate Brownie Granola Bars
Ingredients-• 1 ½ cup rolled outs
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• 1 cup walnuts- food processed into small pieces
• 2 cups pitted dates
• ¾ cup cocoa powder
• ¼ cup natural peanut butter
• ¼ cup agave nectar
Instructions-
• Use a food processor and process walnuts until they are in small pieces, add the cocoa powder and process to combine together. Remove and set aside.
• Process dates until they are small chucks and have a dough like consistency then add the walnut and cocoa mixture and process.
• In a large mixing bowl, empty the mixture and add the oats and nuts and stir to combine thoroughly.
• In a small skillet warm the agave nectar and peanut butter on medium heat until it is pourable and pour over the mixture. Mix thoroughly, I like to use my hands.
• Spread in a lined small pan to your desired thickness and press down to compact. Freeze for about 15-20 minutes then chop into bars.
• Store in the freezer or fridge. Enjoy your brownie granola bars!
Easy Peanut Butter Pretzel and M&M Granola Bars
• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1 cup rice krispies
• ½ cup pretzels, chopped
• ¼ cup mini M&M’s
• 4 tbsp. butter
• ¼ cup honey
• ¼ cup peanut butter
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Instructions-
• Mix the oats, rice krispies, pretzels, and mini M&M’s in a large bowl.
• In a medium saucepan melt the butter, honey, peanut butter and brown sugar and bring to a boil then simmer on medium for about 2-3 minutes constantly stirring. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Pour the mixture over the oat mixture and stir together until everything is well combined.
• Pour the mixture in an 8x8 inch lined pan and press and pack everything down. Sprinkle extra M&M’s if desired and refrigerate for about 30 minutes, remove and cut.
• Store in the fridge. Enjoy!
Easy 30 Minute Granola Bars
Ingredients-• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• ½ tsp. baking soda
• ½ tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• ½ cup honey
• Any dried fruit or chocolate chips you might have on hand
Instructions-
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F
• Mix all the ingredients and press into a greased 11X13 pan. It will be crumbly but press down really hard until a little resemblance of dough forms. Bake for about 20 minutes until the edges are lightly browned.
• Let cool and cut into bars. Enjoy!
These are my “growling” fixes. What are your favorite granola bars?
Go Green and Stay Keen,
Julie
