No bake granola bars
Hola peeps. It’s been almost a month since I posted anything. Though I would like to hide behind the reason that Adya started pre-school a while back and things have gotten hectic, the real truth is that I was just lazy. Lazy not to blog but to transfer the pics from the camera to my pen drive :D. As simple as that task sounds and if you would think that is the lamest excuse to me given (partially true), try opening a laptop in front of my son. He will come pouncing and won’t let you do whatever it is you wanted to do with the laptop in the first place. This means I get to transfer the pics only when Adya is taking his afternoon naps. It’s a small window and I tend to forget this task during that time somehow :). Finally, yesterday I remembered to do this during that golden hour and here I am typing away already :). Anywho, my friend Archie (universally a friend & Archie for age 2 to 200 :)) gifted me this vegan cookbook and I was absolutely thrilled to have gotten that book. The major thrill is to do with the fact that my friends don’t think I am just doing time pass with this blog and truly believe I like cooking and blogging and gestures like this make me jump with joy. Anyways, that cookbook had multiple simple recipes including recipes for granola & muesli. I have made granola before and knew making the bars must be simple. Somehow, when I saw that book I decided to go for it and make my own version of it. The recipe isn’t what I saw on that cookbook and it isn’t a strict recipe I followed from any other site either. It was a mix & match which turned out amazing :). It is something you have keep in your bag when you step out for a few hours and don’t want to buy anything from outside when you are having hunger pangs. I asked a few friends to try this out and they absolutely loved it. This one got a huge thumbs up and takes very less time to make. Also, there is 0 baking involved. Try this out and you will love it am sure. Absolutely healthy & very tasty.
- 1.5 cups steel cut oats
- 1/2 cup almonds
- 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
- 3 tbsp chia seeds
- 3/4 tsp cinnamon powder
- a generous pinch salt
- 3/4 cup unsweetened peanut butter
- 3 tsp virgin coconut oil
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp vanilla essence
- 1/2 tsp oil for greasing
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In a pan, dry roast the oats. This should take only 2-3 minutes. Let it cool down.
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In a mixer, grind together all the dry ingredients - oats, almonds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, cinnamon powder & salt.
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Transfer this mixture into a wide bowl. Add the peanut butter, coconut oil & maple syrup. Mix well.
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Grease a cake mould/ plate with some oil and transfer this mixture to the mould/ plate.
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Pat even & firm using your hands or a broad spatula.
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Freeze for 10 minutes. Take it out and slice to desired shape/ size and freeze it again for 2 hours for the bars to get set.
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You are all set to dig in right after. If you would like to have it later, transfer from the freezer to the fridge.
- You can use any nuts & seeds of your choice. Just maintain the quantity.
- If you want it sweeter, you can add more maple syrup.
Stepwise pictures
In a pan, dry roast oats.
This should take 2-3 minutes. Let the oats cool down.
In a mixer, grind all dry ingredients – oats, almonds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, cinnamon powder & salt.
Grind till smooth.
Transfer this to a wide bowl. To the dry mixture, add peanut butter, maple syrup, virgin coconut oil & vanilla essence.
Mix well.
Grease a cake mould/ plate and transfer this mixture to the mould/ plate.
Pat even & firm using your hands/ broad spatula. Freeze for 10 minutes.
Take it out and cut into desired shape/ size.
Freeze for another 2 hours before digging in. If you want to have it later, transfer to fridge.
