Chocolate Date & Pistachio Bites

This is a recipe from a friend that I had to post.  They are quick to make and are such a yummy treat.  If you have ever had a Larabar they are similar to one of those.  -Kristin

1 cup pistachios
1 cup almonds or other nuts
1 cup chopped dates
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted

• In a food processor pulse together the nuts, dates, coconut flakes and raisins.  
• Then add the cocoa powder and oil.
• If it is too dry add more coconut oil.
• Press into 9x9 pan and refrigerate 2-3 hours.

No-Bake Energy Bites

I adapted this recipe from Smashed Peas and Carrots Blog, they are quick and easy!  I needed an afternoon snack for the kids and was glad to have found this recipe!   -Kristin

1 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter)
1/3 cup honey
1 cup coconut flakes
1/4 - 1-2 cup ground or unground flax seed
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla

• Mix everything above in a medium bowl.   
• Roll into balls and place in refrigerator, hopefully for at least a half an hour.
• Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars

These moist peanut butter flavored bars are so delicious, who can resist peanut butter and chocolate anyway? If you don't want to use sucanat, which is a less refined sugar, brown sugar would work perfectly as an equal substitute. -Sarah

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sucanat

1 egg

1/2 cup natural peanut butter

1 cup white whole wheat flour

1/2 cup quick oats

1/4 t. baking soda

1/4 t. salt

1 cup chocolate chips

• With a mixer blend butter and sucanat, add egg and peanut butter. 
• Mix in flour, oats, baking soda and salt. Stir in half of chocolate chips.
• Press mixture into a greased 8x8 pan. Sprinkle with remaining chocolate chips.
• Bake at 350 degrees about 18 minutes, just till edges are lightly browned, careful not to over bake.

Peanut Butter Granola Bars

These remind me a lot of peanut butter honey popcorn. (recipe on the blog) What a great combo, these bars are great too because they don't have a lot of ingredients. -Sarah

1/2 cup natural peanut butter

1/4-1/3 cup honey

2/3 cup old fashioned oats

2/3 cup white whole wheat flour

1/4 cup sucanat

1/4 t. salt

1/2 t. baking powder

3 T. melted butter

2 T. milk

• Stir together peanut butter and honey (may need to microwave to incorporate it well).
• Mix dry ingredients, then add butter and milk to form crumbs.
• Set aside 1/2 cup of crumb mixture and press remaining into a greased 8x8 pan.
• Spread peanut butter and honey mixture over crust and sprinkle with remaining topping.
• Bake at 325 degrees about 20 minutes.

Pumpkin Cookies- Naturally Sweet

These are so delicious!  I love these little cute cookies.  Really...no one will be able to tell they are "healthy".  -Kristin

1 c. pumpkin
1/2 c. coconut oil, melted (or butter)
3/4 c. sucanant
2 eggs
2 c. whole wheat flour
2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. ground cloves
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 c. unsweetened coconut

• Mix together the pumpkin, oil, sucanant and eggs. Beat well until smooth.
• Stir remaining ingredients together.
• Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture. Stir well.
• Bake 8-10 minutes at 350 on greased baking sheets.

Naturally Sweetened Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

I am a huge fan of oatmeal raisin cookies. We have an awesome recipe on the blog using white flour and refined sugar...and they have always been my favorite...until now! These cookies are delicious...made with whole wheat flour and sucanat. -Kristin

3/4 c. melted butter

1 1/4 c. sucanat

1 egg

1/2 t. salt

1 t. baking powder

1/4 t. baking soda

1 t. vanilla

1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour

2 c. old fashioned oats

1/2 c. raisins

• Beat together the butter, sucanat and egg.
• Beat in the salt, baking powder, baking soda and vanilla.
• Beat in the flour.
• Stir in the oats and raisins.
• Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes.

Sucanat Sugar, 1 lb.

Whole Wheat Peanut Butter Cookies

These cookies are so good! I love peanut butter cookies...especially ones I don't have to feel so guilty eating! -Kristin

1/2 c. butter, melted
1/2 c. natural or regular peanut butter
1/2 c. sucanat
1/4 c. honey
1 egg
1 t. vanilla
1 1/4 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
chocolate chips, optional

• Beat together the butter, peanut butter, sucanat, honey, egg and vanilla; set aside.
• Mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
• Slowly beat in dry mixture to the creamed mixture.
• Stir in chocolate chips if desired.
• Bake at 375 for 7-9 minutes.

Wholesome Sweeteners Fair Trade Organic Sucanat (Brown Sugar), 16-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 12)
Sucanat Sugar, 1 lb.
SucanatTM - 2 Pounds

Naturally Sweetened Chocolate Pudding

This recipe uses sucanat or rapadura in place of sugar. It is absolutely wonderful!!!! This is a recipe from heavenlyhomemaker.com -Kristin

2 1/2 c. milk
3 egg yolks
2/3 c. sucanat or rapadura
1/4 c. cocoa
4 T. cornstarch
1/4 t. salt
3 T. butter
1 t. vanilla

• In a saucepan combine all the ingredients besides the butter and vanilla.
• Whisk until thickened on medium heat.
• Remove from heat and stir in the butter and vanilla.
• Refrigerate.

Sucanat Sugar, 1 lb.
SucanatTM - 2 Pounds

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Bars

You would never guess these were made with whole wheat flour. These pumpkin bars are so moist and delicious. These bars have a lot of pumpkin flavor, they are very addicting too! This recipe is from heavenlyhomemakers.com . -Kristin

2 c. whole wheat flour
2 t. baking powder
2 t. cinnamon
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. ground cloves
4 eggs
2 c. canned pumpkin
1 c. melted butter
1 1/2 c. sucanat

• Mix together all the dry ingredients and set aside.
• In a seperate bowl combine the remaining ingredients and beat until creamy.
• Stir the wet mixture into the dry mixture.
• Spread into a greased 9x13 pan.
• Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes or till done.

Whole Wheat Graham Crackers

These are so yummy! I like that they taste delicious and are whole wheat, how fun to make your own graham crackers. When I was little my Mom used to make ice cream sandwiches with ice cream between graham crackers, she still does this for my sons.  This is a recipe from heavenlyhomemaker.com -Sarah

2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup sucanant, rapadura, (or brown sugar)
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. cinnamon
1/3 cup cocoa powder (only if making chocolate graham crackers)
4 T. honey
1/4 cup water
1 t. vanilla
1 stick butter, melted

• In a bowl stir together the dry ingredients. Add the remaining ingredients and stir well.
• Place the dough on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Roll out with a piece of waxed paper over the dough.
• With a cookie cutter cut through dough to make the sizes of squares you would like.
• Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. Turn oven off, leaving the crackers in the oven. Remove after about 30 minutes. Leaving them in the oven will crisp them. Break crackers apart.

Yummy PB Honey Bars

This is a recipe I got from a lady at our church that cooks and bakes very healthy. These are so fantastic! A perfect snack or dessert! -Kristin

1 c. peanut butter (preferably natural)
1 c. honey
1 c. unsweetened coconut
1 c. chopped pecans or walnuts
1 c. unsalted sunflower seeds
1 c. currants or raisins

• In microwave safe bowl place peanut butter and honey. Microwave for 1 minute and stir well.
• Add the remaining ingredients.
• Bake at 325 for 25-30 minutes.
• Cool completely and they will set up perfectly.

Mom's Sugarless Bars

These are awesome, they cure a sweet tooth! Another great recipe from my Mom! -Sarah

1/2 cup chopped dates

1/2 cup chopped prunes

1/2 cup raisins

1 cup water

1/4 cup butter

2 eggs

1/4 cup chopped walnuts (opt.)

1 t. vanilla

1 cup flour

1 t. baking soda

1/4 t. salt
2 T. sucanat (or sugar)

*can also add 1/2 t. cinnamon & 1/4 t. nutmeg

-Boil first 3 ingredients and the 1 cup water for 5 minutes. Add butter. Mix and set aside to cool.

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

-Mix eggs, vanilla and nuts. Add to the fruit mixture. Sift the flour, baking soda and salt. Add to the fruit mixture.

-Spread in greased 7x11 pan.

-Bake 25-30 minutes.

(When Kristin makes these bars she blends the fruit mixture and butter in a blender till smooth.)