'No-Bake' Baking

We're coming up on the deliciously warm summer months... and who feels like turning their oven on when it's 30 degrees outside, right? But you might still want/need a yummy homemade snack to make it through the afternoon...something that tastes naughty but is actually pretty good for you!

Here are my favourite 'no-bake' treats for those hot summer days. Most are perfect for grab-and-go type days at the park!

No-Bake Energy Bites

1 cup old fashioned oats

1 cup toasted coconut flakes (ok, so you need to turn the oven on for 2 min to toast up some coconut... but watch it carefully because it burns FAST!)

1/2 cup raisins or chocolate chips

1/2 natural peanut butter

1/2 cup ground flaxseed

1 tsp vanilla

Stir all ingredients together in a medium bowl until thoroughly mixed. Let chill in the fridge for half an hour. Once chilled, roll into balls of whatever size you like (mine were about 1"). Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week. 

Makes about 20-25 balls.

Nourishing Protein Bars

(from Passionate Homemaking)

2 cups almonds

1/4 cup flax seeds

1/2 cup dried prunes (or dates)

1/2 shredded coconut

1/2 cup natural peanut butter or almond butter

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 cup coconut oil

1 tbsp honey

2 tsp vanilla

a few squares of dark chocolate (optional)

Place almond, flax seed, prunes, coconut, peanut butter and salt in a food processor. Pulse briefly for 10 seconds. In a small sauce pan, melt the coconut oil over very low heat. Remove from heat and stir in honey and vanilla. Add the coconut oil mixture to the food processor and pulse until ingredients form a coarse paste. Press mixture into a greased (I use a little coconut oil) 8 x 8  baking dish. Chill in fridge for an hour, until mixture hardens. In a small saucepan, melt chocolate over very low heat, stirring continuously Spread melted chocolate over bars and return to fridge for 30 min until chocolate hardens. Cut into 12-15 bars. Store in fridge or freeze. 

Frosty No-Bake Glo Cakes

(adapted from Oh She Glows)

2 bananas

1 cup oats

1/2 cup crisp brown rice cereal

2 tbsp maple syrup

4 tbsp peanut butter

4 tbsp dark chocolate chips

2 tbsp cocoa powder

shredded unsweetened coconut, for garnish

Mash banana in a small bowl. Add cocoa powder, peanut butter, and maple syrup and stir until fully mixed. Now stir in oats, cacao nibs, chocolate chips and rice crisp. Divide into 8 muffins tins, sprinkle with coconut and place in the freezer for 60 minutes. These melt fast so serve right away!