Oatmeal Peppermint Cocoa Bites

Oatmeal Peppermint Cocoa Bites

Happy Holidays! It's the absolutely BEST time of the year in my opinion! :D If you’re looking for an easy, healthy holiday treat, look no further! These NO-BAKE treats are so yummy and they look adorable, too. All you need is a food processor and optional mini festive cupcake holders. :)

The sweetness comes from the dates and a little bit of honey, no extra sugar added. The combination of vanilla and peppermint extract gives such a tasty burst of flavor. Of course, my favorite part is the crushed candy cane rolled around the bites.

Ingredients:

2 cup pitted dates

1 cup oats

1/2 cup unsweetened coconut

1 t. cinnamon

2 T. cocoa powder (I liked unsweetened dark cocoa powder)

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

1 t. vanilla extract

1/4 t. peppermint extract (a little goes a long way!)

1/4 cup honey

5 regular size candy canes (crushed to almost powder)

Directions:

Blend all ingredients expect for both extracts, honey and candy canes in food processor until dates are blended. Then add the extracts and honey and pulse until everything is blended. Pinch the ingredients together to make sure they stick (if not, add a touch more honey). 

FINALLY, create tablespoon-size balls and roll over a plate of crushed candy cane.

Yum!

Pumpkin Oat Balls

Pumpkin Oat Balls

Who else loves FALL!?! Best season of the year in my opinion. :) 

I recently stocked up on pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, sweet potatoes, and different types of squash. I love the flavors and scents this time of year.

 Also, why do I love pumpkin patches so much?! :) Gah! So fun.

Since I love quick and easy treats (who doesn’t…!), I took out my usual no-bake ingredients with a few fall ingredients and whipped up little delicious bites. They don’t take long to make and they are clean, clean, clean to eat. I don't like feeling guilty after eating treats, so I like to have some healthier options when I have a sweets craving.

Enjoy! 

Time: 5-10 mins

Yields: ~18 balls

Ingredients:

2 cups oats

2 T ground flax seed

3 T chia seeds

1 t. cinnamon

1 t. pumpkin pie spice

1/3 cup pumpkin puree

1 t. vanilla extract

1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (optional…I put chocolate in everything)

1/4 cup shredded coconut (optional, but delicious)

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together and roll into balls! Store in freezer. 

YUM!

Oatmeal Date Bars

Oatmeal Date Bars

These couldn’t be easier to make! No baking, no fuss. Just get our your ingredients, a food processor and 9x9 inch pan and you’re over half-way done!

I don’t know about you, but I feel like I’m almost alwaaaaays hungry! I need snacks in between meals that will give me energy, but not get me too full and sometimes I don’t want to snack on carrots or celery! I’ve been trying to master no-bake energy bites of all kinds, so I wanted to get into BARS!

Easy-peezy and you’ll have yummy bars to last you for the next couple weeks!

Hope you enjoy!

Makes: 10-12 bars

Time: 5-10 mins, plus 30 mins to chill

Ingredients:

2 cups pitted dates (I get these in the bulk section for the best deal)

1/2 cup peanut butter or almond butter 

1 cup old fashioned oats

1/4 cup unsweetened coconut (Bob’s Red Mill brand is the best)

2 t. cinnamon

1 T. ground flax seed 

1/4 cup chia seeds

Delicious, but optional:

1/4 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips 

Directions:

1. Add dates, nut butter and oats in food processor, pulse for 1 minute or until combined
2. Add all other ingredients, mix for 30 seconds, use spatula to scrap dough from sides, then mix again for another 30 seconds to a minute until all ingredients are fully combined.
3. Press dough with hands into 9x9 inch pan
4. Refrigerate for 30 mins then cut into bars (I like to individually wrap mine with saran wrap and store in fridge.
5. ENJOY! 

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork!

Deeeeeeeeelish Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

DROOL!!!! My husband makes a MEAN slow cooker BBQ pulled pork. We pick up the 4 pack pork shoulder from Costco and make two of them at a time in our crock pot whenever we're having a small dinner party or when we are just craving a delicious meal with tons of leftovers for the two of us! 

The best part about crock pot recipes is that you just throw EVERYTHING in there and 7 hours later you have the most tasty meal hot and ready.

Hope you enjoy! :) Also, I couldn't help myself, but to share a couple pictures of my hubby and I in Arizona. We were there last week hiking, exploring, and most of all, relaxing by a pool and soaking up that dessert heat!

Now for the main event: Pat’s secret recipe revealed :)

Ingredients:

1 t chili powder

1/4 t cinnamon

1/3 cup ketchup

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

2 T dijon mustard

1 T worcestershire sauce

3 T olive oil

1/3 cup BBQ sauce

1 onion, thickly sliced 

~4 lbs. boneless pork shoulder

Directions:

1. In small bowl, whisk all ingredients together, except onion and pork shoulder.
2. Layer sliced onion on bottom of crockpot and place pork shoulder on top. Pour BBQ sauce mixture on top.
3. Set crockpot on LOW for 7 hours.
4. ENJOY…preferably with pretzel buns and a generous serving of pulled pork and extra BBQ sauce. :)

Happy slow-cookin’!

No-Bake Coconut Almond Snack Balls!

No-Bake Coconut Almond Snack Balls!

I LOVE me some no-bake treats. Almost instant gratification with these bad boys (minus a little chilling time). These have a natural sweetness with dates, but I do add a little agave to mine to make the dough stay together better. They are truly a healthy treat or midday snack when you need a little pick-me-up. 
Enjoy! 

Makes: 20 snack balls
Time: 5-10 minutes, plus 30 mins to chill dough

Ingredients:
1/2 cup almonds
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup pitted dates
1/2 cup toasted coconut*
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 t. vanilla
2 T. ground flaxseed
2 T. melted coconut oil
3 T. Agave or honey

Directions:
1. Get your food processor and a big mixing bowl ready . Toss almonds and oats in food processor and blend under powdery, then place in mixing bowl. 
2. Add dates and just a tiny bit of water (a teaspoon-ish) to food processor and blend until dates are fully combined and mushed together. Then, add to mixing bowl.
3. Add remaining ingredients to mixing bowl and stir, stir, stir until everything is combined.
4. Let chill in freezer for up to 30 minutes to allow dough to harden (makes it MUCH easier to roll into balls).
5. Once chilled, scoop spoonfuls and roll into balls...then enjoy your healthy snack!

*To toast shredded or powdered coconut, preheat oven to 300F, spread coconut evenly on baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes. Take out and use a spatula to mix the coconut around. Bake for 3-4 minutes longer, checking frequently to make sure it doesn't get too brown! Let cool.

YUM! 

Almond Date Bars

Almond Date Bars

Hi bakers! 

If you’ve never considered yourself a “date” person or even tried them before, I’m telling you, get on board! They are oh-so sweet and add a fantastic texture to dessert bars, cookies, etc, PLUS they are good for you…what?! 

These bars take a little work with your food processor, but you don’t have to bake them, which is the best part! Quick, delicious, protein-packed with almonds and almond butter, and curbs your sour-patch kid sugar craving with rich, dark chocolate drizzled on top.

Ingredients:

Crust

1 cup raw almonds

1 cup pitted soft dates

dash of sea salt

2 T. almond butter 

1 t. vanilla

2-4 T. water (to make dough less crumbly)

On top

1 cup dark chocolate

2 T. coconut oil

1 T. almond butter

Now, to make it:

1. Toss almonds into food processor and pulse until fine. Then add in dates, salt, almond butter, vanilla (If too crumbly, add in 1 tablespoon of water at a time).
2. Press almond/date dough into bottom of 8x8 pan. 
3. Melt on stove, coconut oil and chocolate, stirring constantly until fully melted. 
4. Pour evenly on top of dough.
5. Let harden in freezer for an hour or so before cutting into your bars. 
6. ENJOY! 

PB Coconut Oil Gooey Bites

PB Coconut Oil Gooey Bites

I was inspired to make these from a recipe on texanerin.com - No-bake Chocolate Chip Cookies, BUT, in typical Bakeandbefit fashion, I changed some things around, added a little this and a little that and Voila! Yummy (and addicting) PB energy bites!  

Check out my substitutes to fit your needs (or what you have in your kitchen). :)

These are GREAT for a pre or post-workout snack or a little after dinner dessert. Pace yourself, as the coconut oil and peanut butter do have a lot of fat (even if it's the "good" kind), fat is fat and we want to watch our intake.  

Happy "No-Baking" :)

INGREDIENTS:

3 Tbls. coconut oil

1/2 cup peanut butter (or almond butter)

1/4 cup honey (or agave or pure maple syrup)

3 Tbls. Chia seeds

Dash of cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/2 cup rolled oats

Chocolate chips for tops of cookie bites

Optional add-ins:

1/2 cup toasted shredded coconut

2 Tbls. ground flax seed

1/4 cup chopped nuts (almonds, pecans or walnuts)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Melt coconut oil in small pot on low heat

2. Add peanut butter and honey and turn heat up slightly. Bring mixture to a light boil, stirring constantly

3. Stir in chia seeds, cinnamon, vanilla for another minute

4. Remove from heat and add in oats (and any other add-in's).

5. Let mixture cool for a few minutes before scooping spoonfuls onto baking sheet.

6. Scoop tablespoon size balls on lightly greased (with coconut oil) baking sheet, then softly place a couple chocolate chips on each cookie bite.

7. Cover with foil and place baking sheet in fridge until cookies are completely cool (I left overnight, then stored them in a tupperware).

ENJOY!

Flourless Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies

Flourless Pumpkin Chocolate Chip 

Cranberry Cookies

I knoooow it's the new year and we are all cleaning up our diets after the holidays, BUT there's just no way for me to completely cut out eating cookies. How about you? :) Of course, I will provide a healthy cookie recipe so that you can stay on track with your health goals this year! :D

I still wanted to feel seasonal with pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg flavors, so these cookies bring it all together. They also have a delicious combination of dark chocolate and cranberry mixed in......with a hint of peanut butter, too. You'll get your fiber from the oats, protein from the peanut butter and some healthy antioxidants from the dark chocolate. Enjoy for a little breakfast treat or snack or after dinner dessert...or I guess, anytime, you catch my drift. ;)

Happy Baking! 

Makes: 40 cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rolled oats 
• 2 ¼ cups oat flour (oats blended in food processor)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/2 generous cup dark chocolate chips :)
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries (aka Craisins)
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Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and spread a little coconut oil on baking sheet.

2. Mix all the dry ingredients together in large bowl.

3. Mix wet ingredients together in smaller bowl (except chocolate and cranberries).

4. Combine wet ingredients with dry ingredients until fully blended (don't over mix).

5. Stir in chocolate chips and cranberries.

6. Scoop spoonfuls onto baking sheet, pressing down tops of cookies gently with a fork.

7. Bake for 15 minutes.

8. Allow to cool for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Eat up and share :)