Low Cal Chewy Granola Bars

I know, I know, another granola bar recipe. But, friends, I was so excited to find not one but TWO recipes I really enjoyed. This version is completely different that the first recipe I shared, but even HIGHLY on the health scale. I made a few alterations to Sarah Fit's recipe, but I left her original recommendations in tact, because I would have liked to try those ingredients had I had them on hand. These are a chewier granola bar, and perfect for traveling nutrition. 

Low Cal Chewy Granola Bars

recipe adapted from Sarahfit.com

Makes 12 granola bars 

Ingredients

1/2 cup milk (Sarah recommends unsweetened vanilla almond milk)

2 Tbsp honey

1 medium ripe banana, mashed

1-1/2 cup old fashioned oats

1/2 cup flour (Sarah recommends Almond meal)

3 Tbsp coconut

2 tsp cinnamon

3 Tbsp flaxseed, ground (Sarah recommends 2 servings Vanilla Protein Powder)

1/4 cup almonds, roughly chopped 

1/4 cup raisins

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine milk, honey, and mashed banana in a large mixing bowl. Add in oats, flour, coconut, cinnamon, and flaxseed and stir together. Stir in almonds and raisins to evenly distribute. 

Coat a 9x13 pan with cookie spray. Press batter evenly into the pan.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until center is firm. Cut immediately upon removing pan from the oven and let cool completely in the pan. 

Wrap individually in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container to preserve freshness.

130 calories if cut into 12 bars. 

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Homemade "Fit" Granola Bars Recipe

I have been hunting for a homemade granola bar recipe that wasn't chock full of sugar, sugar, sugar. This recipe using some sweet alternatives like light pancake syrup and Stevia, but besides those ingredients and of course a bit of peanut butter, these bars fit my bill. I love the mixture of healthy cereals and the options of healthy add-ins. These bars could be as nutrient-rich as you want! I like using Aldi's verion of Kashi Go Lean Cereal along with the Aldi version of Fiber One. High fiber, high protein, and low sugar cereals. 

Homemade "Fit" Granola Bars Recipe

recipe slightly adapted from dashingdish.com

Makes 12 granola bars

Ingredients

1 cup rice cereal

1 cup bran/flake ("Go Lean") cereal

1 cup all bran ("Fiber One") cereal

1 cup old fashioned oats

1/4 cup shredded coconut

1/4 cup baking stevia OR 6 packets Splenda or other sweetener

1 tsp cinnamon

pinch salt 

3/4 cup light pancake syrup (or 1/2 cup honey)

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

2 Tbsp chocolate chips

Optional Variations: white chocolate chips, dried fruit, sliced almonds, cocoa powder, raisins

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. 

Melt peanut butter in the microwave. 

In a zippered bag, combine rice cereal, bran/flake cereal, and all bran cereal and use a rolling pin to lightly crush the cereal. Transfer to a large mixing and add in oats, coconut, sweetener, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in syrup and peanut butter until evenly distributed. Stir in chocolate chips. 

Coat a 9x13 pan with cooking spray and press the mixture evenly in to the pan. 

Bake for 20-25 minutes. Remove from the oven and cut into 12 even granola bars. Bake an additional 10-15 minutes for chewy bars, or turn off the oven and return pan to the oven for 15-45 minutes for crunchy bars. 

Once cooled completed, wrap bars individually in plastic wrap for easy lunches or snacks. Keep in an airtight container.

130 calories if cut into 12 bars. 

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Frosted Ginger Cookies Recipe

Britt & Mel circa 2006

Today is a guest post recipe from my in-real-life friend, Brittney. You will LOVE this recipe. I have eaten more than my share of these cookies. :)
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Hi Mel's readers! My name is Brittney and I was blessed to be her roommate and her Canadian best friend through 4 years of college! We were each others maid of honours! This cookie recipe is something she and I enjoyed many times throughout the 4 years! They're a great treat at Christmas, but are just as good all year round too!



Frosted Ginger Cookies Recipe

recipe from Dave & Melaney Austin, Brittney's parents 

Makes 6 dozen cookies

Ingredients

for the cookies:

1-1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup molasses

2 tsp vanilla extract

4-1/2 cup flour (or a little less)

1 Tbsp ground ginger

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp baking soda

for the frosting:

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

2 cups confectioner sugar

2 Tbsp butter

1/4 cup milk

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

pinch of salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. 

In a mixing bowl, cream butter, sugar, and brown sugar. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in molasses and vanilla. Mix well. 

In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients. Gradually stir them into the creamed mixture. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet and baked 12-15 minutes--or until cookies spring back when touched (do not overbake!) Remove to wire rack to cool. 

for the frosting:

In a medium saucepan, bring sugars and butter to a boil. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in milk, bring to a boil. Remove from heat (mixture will appear curdled). Cool for 3 minutes. Stir in vanilla and salt. 

Spread onto warm cookies. 

this was my 20th birthday party--7 years ago.

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Peanut Butter Cup Pie Recipe

oh my goodness gracious, friends. This is the fastest, easiest, most delicious pie (assuming you love pb/chocolate) you will ever get your hands on mouth around. Making and baking a pie crust from scratch took the longest time and the pie was still completed and ready to eat in less than an hour. Perfect for last minute parties. The filling itself takes around 3 and a half minutes to finish, so if you're really pressed for time or if making a pie crust from scratch causes you to break out in hives then feel free to a) buy a pre-made pie crust, b) buy or make a graham cracker crust (I think that would make this delicious.) 

Peanut Butter Cup Pie Recipe

Recipe adapted from Tasty Kitchen

Serves 8-16 (it's rich, so a skinny slice goes a long way, even with a sweet tooth like mine.)

Ingredients

1 whole Frozen Pie Crust or Homemade Never-Fail Crust (1/4 of the recipe)

3 cups powdered sugar

1 cup creamy peanut butter

2 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened

1/4 cup water

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (or combination of your favorite chocolate chips)

2-3 Tbsp roasted peanuts

Directions

Bake the pie crust according to directions (approximately 15 minutes at 350 degrees for the homemade version.) 

In a large bowl, beat together powdered sugar, peanut butter, butter, and water until smooth and creamy. After the pie crust has cooled completely, spread the peanut butter mixture evenly into the crust. 

In a glass measuring cup or other microwave safe bowl, pour the chocolate chips and microwave in 15 second intervals to melt the chocolate. Once melted, pour the chocolate over the peanut butter filling. Spread  to cover the filling as desired. 

Chocolate a few tablespoons of roasted peanuts and sprinkle around the edge of the melted chocolate. Refrigerate until the filling is set. 

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