Protein bars, energy bars, granola bars, CANDY BARS…whatever you call 'em, I love 'em. They're convenient and tasty, and I usually keep one in my purse in case I get the shakes when I'm out and about. But since I'm allergic to peanuts, and sensitive to gluten, there aren't that many options for me, And a girl can only eat so many Larabars. So I decided to make my own.
Heidi Swanson has an awesome recipe for Do-It-Yourself Power Bars in her cookbook, Super Natural Cooking (which is quickly becoming my new favorite cookbook). I altered her recipe slightly to ensure that it was gluten-free. I also made them into balls instead of bars, because I wanted a smaller portion size, and my kid loves balls.
The result is a tasty treat, that's almost like a Rice Krispie Bar, only better. I love that there are walnuts in this, because I've been trying to eat more walnuts (you know, for the good fat.) And candied ginger...Wookie and I can't get enough.
These little balls would fit nicely into a bento lunch. They also make a great afternoon snack. I froze them in tiny waxed muffin cups, on a baking sheet, before stuffing them into an airtight container in the freezer.
1 1/4 cups gluten-free oats
1 1/4 cups toasted walnuts, chopped
1 1/2 cups unsweetened crisp rice cereal
1/2 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
1 cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons finely chopped crystallized ginger
1 cup brown rice syrup
1/4 cup natural cane sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
pinch of sea salt
Combine the oats, walnuts, cereal, coconut, cranberries, and ginger in a large bowl and set aside. Combine the brown rice syrup, cane sugar, vanilla, and sea salt in a saucepan over medium heat and stir constantly for 4 minutes. Pour over the dry ingredients, and stir until everything is evenly coated. Allow the mixture to cool for about 5 minutes, then roll it into 1-inch balls with wet hands.
Makes 30-40 balls.
4 comments:
these are similiar to a recipe I got from Whole foods called Granola balls. They are so yummy I was do for a batch this week anyhow thanks for posting!
Since you are a food geek, thought you would like to know that we in india make the same kind of recipe called Chikki. Although we dont add any brown rice syrup or oats as such to it, but it's made in a whole lot of varities. The chikkis are made into roundels or flattened and cut into squares when the mixed ingredients are warm...however i loved your waxed muffin cups method...gonnna try it for myself...yum!!!
christina - good luck with your granola balls this week!
muzicangel - thanks for the tip, I had never heard of chikki until just now, but I'd like to try them, so I'm gonna look into it some more.
Ok I have been looking for the best way to make little breakfast bars and these might be it! They look beautiful, and would be great with different dried fruit and nut combination. By the way, Chikki is not as healthy as this as it is loaded with sugar (check out more on my blog about it)
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