These Granola Bar Rounds don't fit into my Weight Watchers routine, but they are a very cool recipe that one of my friends shared with me, and I thought you might enjoy. It's simply fun take on a granola bar made in a muffin tin that is ideal for packing in kids lunch boxes, keeping on hand as an after school treat, or allowing yourself as a special cheat day treat.
Chocolate Drizzled Granola Bar Rounds
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When I think Granola Bar, I almost always think of dry and crunchy options that I used to hate seeing show up in my lunchbox as a kid. These days, you can find tons of great options out there full of delicious flavors. Yet, I still worry about the preservatives and all the additions found in those store bought options. So, this fun granola bar option was a must when my friend offered her recipes and images to share on my blog.
This is made in a muffin tin, but I actually prefer using my favorite silicone muffin cups. I grabbed this 24 pack Silicone Baking Set that actually comes with 12 round and 12 rectangular. I love this since it is ideal for miniature loafs, or in this case, you can make granola bars in rounds or actual miniature bars.
A few notes on preparing these granola bars:
- Use your food processor to crush the pretzels easily
- You can easily substitute carob chips for the chocolate chips for a healthier option
- Use coconut oil instead of butter for a healthier fat and oil option
- Skip the brown sugar and test for natural sweetness from the cranberries, peanut butter, and honey. You may find little to no need for additional sugar.
- My friend recommends using, specifically, a 3-tablespoon scoop to scoop the mixture and place into the muffin cups before baking. This helps keep it even. This will keep it from burning and make it easy to portion control.
Ingredients:
1-½ cups crushed pretzels
2 cups quick cooking oats
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup shelled sunflower seeds
¾ cup peanut butter
4 tablespoons butter
½ cup honey
½ cup brown sugar, packed
2 teaspoons vanilla
½ cup flour
¼ cup chocolate chips
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.
Spray nonstick cooking spray into muffin tins if using traditional pans. Most silicone muffin tins won't require spray.
In a large mixing bowl, combine pretzels, oats, cranberries and sunflower seeds.
On the stove in a sauce pan, melt peanut butter, butter, honey, sugar, and vanilla while stirring constantly until smooth. Remove from heat. Pour over pretzel and oat mixture and stir to coat evenly.
Using a 3 tablespoon scoop, scoop the pretzel mix into the prepared muffin pan. Press mixture firmly into the pan with the back of your scoop or your fingers.
Bake about 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.
Pop granola rounds out of the muffin tin and place on wax or parchment paper.
In a small ziplock bag, place chocolate chips. Microwave on 50% power for 60 seconds until soft. Knead bag until all lumps are gone and chocolate is melted. Cut corner of plastic bag and drizzle chocolate onto granola. Let set to firm up.
Makes 16-20 granola rounds.
- 1-½ cups crushed pretzels (try this in your food processor, or place pretzels in a ziplock bag and crush with a rolling pin)
- 2 cups quick cooking oats
- 1 cup dried cranberries - try to unstick the cranberries before adding them in
- 1 cup shelled sunflower seeds
- ¾ cup peanut butter
- 4 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- ½ cup flour
- ¼ cup chocolate chips
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Spray nonstick cooking spray into muffin tins if using traditional pans. Most silicone muffin tins won't require spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine pretzels, oats, cranberries and sunflower seeds.
- On the stove in a sauce pan, melt peanut butter, butter, honey, sugar, and vanilla while stirring constantly until smooth. Remove from heat. Pour over pretzel and oat mixture and stir to coat evenly.
- Using a 3 tablespoon scoop, scoop the pretzel mix into the prepared muffin pan. Press mixture firmly into the pan with the back of your scoop or your fingers.
- Bake about 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.
- Pop granola rounds out of the muffin tin and place on wax or parchment paper.
- In a small ziplock bag, place chocolate chips. Microwave on 50% power for 60 seconds until soft. Knead bag until all lumps are gone and chocolate is melted. Cut corner of plastic bag and drizzle chocolate onto granola. Let set to firm up.
- Makes 16-20 granola rounds.
Obviously, these Chocolate Drizzled Granola Bar Rounds are a decadent choice full of more than just oatmeal. The delicious inclusion of peanut butter, chocolate, cranberries, and even sunflowers makes them a great option that will satisfy anyone looking for a yummy snack. While this measures in a bit too high for me to have as a snack on a regular basis for my current Weight Watchers points allowance, it is an ideal option for the Wee Child to have as a pre-basketball snack, or for my Beau to take as an afternoon snack while he works.
This recipe when made as 20 Granola Bar Rounds is 11 SmartPoints per Granola Bar.
Make your Granola Bar dreams come true with this yummy and easy recipe that everyone in your family will love snacking on. Make double batches and store in airtight containers to package in baggies for lunchboxes and snacking all week long!
More Snack Ideas:
- 50+ Weight Watchers SmartPoints Snacks
- 45 Snacks Under 100 Calories
- 25 Weight Watches Smoothie Recipes
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