January is coming to a close. How did you do with your resolutions? Are you still on track with your goals? Gah, sometimes they are just so hard to stick with!

One of my big goals for 2015 is to make my snacks count. Instead of just grabbing a handful of chips or a block of cheese, I want to be much more purposeful with my snacking. There are times when I do really well and other times, not so much. As I take these small steps towards a healthier lifestyle, I’ve learned that I can really control my snacking when it is satisfying, sweet, and a little salty. Today, I am letting you in on my snack secret. These trail mix granola bar energy bites pack a punch of protein and feature Sunsweet® Amaz!n™ Diced Prunes.

Speaking of which, Sunsweet® has a full line of Feel Good Fruit products ready to help you stay on track with your snacking goals. You can drink PlumSmart® Light: (60 calories, great source of fiber, yummy in smoothies), grab Amaz!n™ Prunes (100 calories, have a low glycemic index to help you feel fuller longer), or snack on Amaz!n™ Diced Prunes (100 calories, great on oatmeal or added to a salad).

Product Shot

Trail Mix Granola Bar Bites featuring Sunsweet® Amaz!n™ Diced Prunes

rail Mix Granola Bar Energy Bites

 Trail Mix Granola Bar Bites Ingredients

  • 1 cup oats (old fashioned or quick cooking), dry
  • 1/4 cup quinoa + 3/4 cup water
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips
  • 1/3 cup unsalted almonds, chopped finely
  • 1/3 cup Sunsweet® Amaz!n™ Diced Prunes
  • 1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp peanut butter (or your favorite nut butter)
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/3 cup honey

Trail Mix Granola Bar Bites Method

  1. Rinse quinoa in cold water. In a small sauce pot, combine quinoa and water. Reduce heat to simmer, cover, and cook until quinoa has absorbed all liquid (12-15 minutes).
  2. Fluff with fork and scoop in quinoa into a large mixing bowl.
  3. If needed, chop almonds into fine pieces by pulsing in food processor. Be careful not to turn your almonds into almond butter by pulsing too long!
  4. Combine almonds, Sunsweet® Amaz!n™ Diced Prunes, coconut, oats, with quinoa and mix well.Trail Mix Granola Bar Energy Bites
  5. In a glass bowl or measuring cup, microwave honey and vanilla for 45 seconds and stir. (You want this to be warm but not boiling hot).
  6. Pour honey mixture on top of nuts and oats. Mix until combined.
  7. If your honey mixture is still warm, wait until it is cooled before adding chocolate chips, peanut butter, and salt. YOU MUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO MELT CHOCOLATE CHIPS!
  8. Mix until peanut butter is mixed in very well.
  9. Chill mixture for one hour.
  10. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop and roll into golf ball shaped/sized bites. If you don’t have an ice cream scoop, you can use a large spoon.
  11. Chill for additional two hours before serving.

Trail Mix Granola Bar Energy Bites
Trail Mix Granola Bar Bites Notes

This recipe is easily doubled or tripled. I like to roll up my sleeves and use my hands to mix the peanut butter in. I’ve found it to be the best way to make sure it mixes evenly since it is the “glue” that holds the bites together. These are a huge hit in my house and we go through about four batches a week. My husband likes to use them as post workout snacks and the kids love them too!

Trail Mix Granola Bar Energy Bites! They've got all the flavors you love- sweet and salty!

4.3 from 4 reviews
Trail Mix Granola Bar Energy Bites
 
Print
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Trail Mix Granola Bar Energy Bites are the perfect snack to have on hand. Kids love them (they taste like cookies!) and they are full of protein!
Author:
Recipe type: Snack
Ingredients
  • 1 cup oats (old fashioned or quick cooking), dry
  • ¼ cup quinoa + ¾ cup water
  • ½ cup chocolate chips
  • ⅓ cup unsalted almonds, chopped finely
  • ⅓ cup Sunsweet® Amaz!n™ Diced Prunes
  • ¼ cup shredded unsweetened coconut
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp peanut butter (or your favorite nut butter)
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • ⅓ cup honey
Instructions
  1. Rinse quinoa in cold water. In a small sauce pot, combine quinoa and water. Reduce heat to simmer, cover, and cook until quinoa has absorbed all liquid (12-15 minutes).
  2. Fluff with fork and scoop in quinoa into a large mixing bowl.
  3. If needed, chop almonds into fine pieces by pulsing in food processor. Be careful not to turn your almonds into almond butter by pulsing too long!
  4. Combine almonds, Sunsweet® Amaz!n™ Diced Prunes, coconut, oats, with quinoa and mix well.
  5. In a glass bowl or measuring cup, microwave honey and vanilla for 45 seconds and stir. (You want this to be warm but not boiling hot).
  6. Pour honey mixture on top of nuts and oats. Mix until combined.
  7. If your honey mixture is still warm, wait until it is cooled before adding chocolate chips, peanut butter, and salt. YOU MUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO MELT CHOCOLATE CHIPS!
  8. Mix until peanut butter is mixed in very well.
  9. Chill mixture for one hour.
  10. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop and roll into golf ball shaped/sized bites. If you don't have an ice cream scoop, you can use a large spoon.
  11. Chill for additional two hours before serving.
Notes
I like to roll up my sleeves and use my hands to mix the peanut butter in. I've found it to be the best way to make sure the peanut butter mixes in evenly. It is the "glue" that holds the balls together.

 

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Join the newsletter

Living in MA rocks! Subscribe to hear about awesome events and places to explore with your family.

Powered by ConvertKit