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Easy Almond Granola Protein Bites

Easy Almond Granola Protein Bites

These are also referred to as “crack balls” in my house. Why? Because one is never enough– they’re just that good. I went through about 5 variations of these before getting the consistency right where I wanted it. The first ones were too sweet (still quite good, don’t get me wrong, but they were more like krispy treats in texture and sweetness, and I was aiming for a more healthful approach wherein I wouldn’t feel guilty popping 3-4 of these in my mouth). The next few versions were either too crumbly or not crunchy enough. These are the ideal balance of protein to nuttiness to sweetness for my palate.

The inspiration to make these came from my obsession with Quest Bars. Have you tried those? They are the best protein bars out there and I never feel guilty about having them. If you put them in the microwave for 10 seconds, they turn all gooey and decadent– it’s like dessert! And they make awesome pre-bed snacks to satisfy your sweet tooth.

You can call these no-bakes, or cookie dough, or whatever, but the bottom line is: they’re so freakin’ good and they make really terrific snacks packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats. I love to carry these around with me during the day instead of bars to give me a quick allotment of protein and carbs.

 

// Easy almond granola protein bites

What makes these easy is the fact that I use store-bought granola instead of making my own (of course, if you happen to have your own homemade granola, please use it!). I am in LOVE with Nature’s Path Organic Ancient Grains Granola with Almonds, only available at Costco. It has an amazing blend of oats, spelt, kamut, quinoa, amaranth, and almonds, with just a touch of  sweetness from vanilla and molasses. I highly recommend grabbing a couple boxes of this stuff next time you’re at Costco. If you’re not a Costco member (shame on you! :-p), you can substitute with another good box of vanilla almond granola. 

Makes 30 bites

3/4 cup granola, ground into a flour using a mini food processor

1 1/4 cup granola, loose crumbles, broken apart if needed using a mini food processor

1/2 cup vanilla whey protein powder

1/3 cup creamy, natural almond butter

1/3 cup creamy, natural peanut butter

1/4 cup honey

 

Handful raw, slivered almonds chopped roughly using a mini food processor, to roll bites in

 

// Put the granola, protein powder, almond and peanut butters, and honey into a large bowl. Mix using your hands– it’s going to be a messy, sticky situation at first but eventually this will turn into a cookie dough consistency. Use a teaspoon or teaspoon-measure mini scooper (like a smaller version of an ice cream scooper) to portion out the bites. Roll them into balls and then toss them in the chopped almonds to cover. These protein bites can be eaten straight away but I prefer them cold out of the fridge.

 

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2 comments
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  • Christina @ Sweet Pea's KitchenJanuary 3, 2014 - 4:07 pm

    I love these little bites! I am obsessed with quest bars…I’ll have to give these babies a try! 🙂ReplyCancel

    • StephanieFebruary 25, 2014 - 1:38 pm

      God, YES to Quest Bars! I feel like an addict sometimes running in to GNC, grabbing an armful and plopping them on the counter to pay. I get the shakes when I run out! So good!ReplyCancel

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