DIY Granola Bars (Kids Approved!)

Granola Bars not only your kids will loooove!

Liv and I made a quick trip to the supermarket, and she spotted these granola bars she wanted for school. First thing we ALWAYS do—check the ingredients. 🤔 Hard no. 4 different kinds of sugars and preservatives, not organic.. Even Liv, at 11, could spot it right away. "Can we make our own, mommy?" she asked. Absolutely, I said! So, we got to work.

We started by picking our favorite granola ingredients—organic sprouted oats (easier to digest!) nuts, seeds, you name it. Then, we melted a mix of coconut oil and ghee, added a drizzle of maple syrup, a pinch of salt, and lots of cinnamon and pumpkin spice (the good stuff!).

[Recipe on the blog, too!] Some bars even got a few dairy free chocolate chips for fun.

Next step: Press the mixture into our favorite granola bar molds—best investment of last year! 🙌 We baked them at 300°F for 20 minutes, let them cool, and then got creative with toppings.

One batch got a thin layer of chocolate + freeze-dried strawberries. Another got peanut butter, melted chocolate, and a sprinkle of sea salt. Some we left plain. 😋

Not sure if these will make it to Tuesday... I mean, school starts after the long weekend, but they’re that good. 🤭

Full Recipe & ingredients

What you’ll need:

Granola Bar Molds

Boiler Pot for melting chocolate

• 2 cups organic sprouted rolled oats

• 1/2 cup mixed nuts (sliced almonds, chopped pecans, etc.)

• 1/4 cup seeds (chia, sesame, flaxseed, etc.)

• 1/4 cup coconut oil

• 1/4 cup ghee (or butter, if preferred)

• 1/4 cup maple syrup (or more if desired)

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp pumpkin spice (optional)

• Pinch of sea salt

• 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (optional, for the sweet tooth)

Optional Toppings:

• Melted dark chocolate

• Freeze-dried strawberries or blueberries

• Organic peanut butter

• Sea salt flakes

Instructions:

1. Preheat the Oven & Prep the Molds: Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Grease your granola bar molds (if not silicone) or line a baking pan with parchment paper.

2. Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the oats, chopped nuts, and seeds. Add cinnamon, pumpkin spice, and a pinch of sea salt. Stir everything together to evenly distribute the spices.

3. Melt the Wet Ingredients: In a small saucepan, melt the coconut oil and ghee together. Once melted, stir in the maple syrup until well combined.

4. Combine: Pour the melted mixture over the dry ingredients and mix everything together until the oats and nuts are fully coated. If you like it sweeter, feel free to add a little extra maple syrup here!

5. Press into Molds: Transfer the granola mix into your molds or prepared pan. Press down firmly so the mixture sticks together (this helps the bars hold their shape once baked).

6. Bake: Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown and fragrant.

7. Cool and Add Toppings: Let the bars cool completely before removing them from the molds. Once cooled, get creative with toppings (you can also leave them in the molds for decorating):

   • Drizzle melted dark chocolate over the top, then sprinkle freeze-dried strawberries.

   • Add a dollop of peanut butter and drizzle with more melted chocolate, then top with a pinch of sea salt.

   • Put back in the fridge and let cool again.

8. Store: Store in an airtight container for up to a week (if they last that long!).

(Pea)Nut Butter Cups. The BEST.

As you all know, I love experimenting in the kitchen! This time, no baking involved :)

My family can’t get enough of peanut butter cups, but most store-bought ones are loaded with junk ingredients, aren’t organic, or cost way too much. So, when we had dinner guests the other night, I decided to whip up a healthier, homemade version! 🍫✨

Here’s what you'll need:

• Mini non-bleached paper cupcake liners and a double boiler pot for melting the chocolate

• Dairy-free chocolate chips semi sweet (melted in a water bath)

• Organic rice & millet puffs

• Nut butter of your choice – I love organic peanut & almond butter (sometimes I mix them!)

• Flaky sea salt for the perfect finishing touch.

Steps:

1. Melt your chocolate in a water bath. (you can also use a pastry bag)

2. Place a layer of the puffs in the liner, then cover them with melted chocolate and stir gently. Pop them in the fridge for 10 minutes.

3. Afterward, add a spoonful of nut butter (note: next time I’ll only place it in the middle so it stays pretty – nut butter doesn’t harden like chocolate!) add another layer of chocolate.

4. Sprinkle with a little sea salt for the ultimate treat. Put it back in the fridge for at least 20 mins

These peanut butter cups have zero unnecessary ingredients and taste SO much better than the store-bought kind. Trust me – make a big batch because they’re addictive and perfect to bring to any party! 🎉🥜🍫

Cinnamon Apple Cake Dream Holiday Edition

This Apple Cinnamon Cake is the ultimate crowd-pleaser for your holiday celebrations! It's simple, made with just 7 ingredients, and can be baked on a tray, making it perfect for larger groups. (serves 12) 🍎👨‍🍳

Best part? The kids can even help! 🙌

What you'll need:

• kitchen scale

• medium sized baking tray

• baking frame

Ingredients:

• 250g Butter

• 3 tsp ground vietnamese cinnamon

• 5 Eggs

• 150g Sugar + 1 packet Vanilla sugar (hard to get in the US, so I make my own! Just scrape real vanilla beans and combine with sugar of your choice, let sit in a jar for a couple of days or weeks . Leave the beans inside as well!) Liquid works too.

• 350g Flour of your choice, since we are GF, I use my GF mix

• 1 packet Baking powder (or 16 g)

• 4 large Apples (or 4-5 smaller ones) I love a mix of sweet and tart

Grease the baking sheet with oil or butter, peel the apples, and cut them into small pieces, add the cinnamon.

Beat the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the eggs, and mix well. Sift the flour and baking powder over the mixture and fold them in. Gently fold the apple pieces into the batter.

Spread the mixture onto a greased baking sheet and bake at 200°C (400°F) with top and bottom heat for about 25 minutes. Check with a toothpick. Cover with foil if it gets too dark in your oven! Enjoy!

Tip: While I can't enjoy it myself, I promise it's an absolute hit when served with vanilla ice cream or freshly whipped cream. You’ll definitely impress your family with this one! 💯

xx Mandy