Cinnamon Maple Granola

A Parker summertime tradition, homemade granola. My husband’s favorite is cinnamon, my favorite is dark chocolate peanut. It’s great for snacking, eating as cereal with milk, or sprinkled on yogurt or ice cream (especially delicious on homemade ice cream!). You can follow the basic recipe and make it your own by adding your favorite ingredients.

 

5 cups rice krispies
4 cups rolled oats
1 cup rough chopped walnuts
2 cups raisins
1 cup coconut
1 cup chopped dates
1 cup craisins
3 Tbl cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350°.  In large bowl, mix together rice krispies, oats, walnuts, raisins, coconut, dates, craisins, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  In saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar together.  Add maple syrup, salt, and vanilla.  Pour over dry ingredients and stir gently until thoroughly combined.  Spread out evenly on two cookie sheets that have been sprayed with nonstick spray.  Bake for 8 minutes, remove and gently stir and spread out again.  Bake another 8 minutes, remove, gently stir and spread out again.  Bake 8 minutes more.  Remove and cool completely.  Store in airtight container.

More Granola!

 

Advertisement

Rocky Mountain Cookies

Quarantine is a little happier with cookies. If you are quarantined alone with that batch of cookies, you may want to get on the elliptical a couple more times (speaking from experience).

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
2 cups oats
2 cups Rice Krispies cereal
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350°. In large bowl of mixer, cream butter, sugar, and brown sugar. Add eggs and vanilla, whip until incorporated and creamy. In another bowl, stir together flour, oats, Rice Krispies, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and chocolate chips. Add dry ingredients to mixer with creamed mixture, mix just until all ingredients are incorporated. Drop scoopfuls of batter onto baking sheets. Bake for 9-10 minutes, careful not to over bake.

Orange Creamsicle Rice Krispies Treats

This is a great treat to make on a hot day. No need for the oven to heat up the kitchen. My nieces and I had fun making this recipe from simplysouthernbaking.com.

Orange Rice Krispies Treats:
1/4 cup butter
1 (10 oz) bag mini marshmallows
1½ tsp vanilla
2/3 cup orange cake mix (I used Duncan Hines Orange Supreme)
6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
2 cups white vanilla baking chips

In large microwave safe bowl, melt butter in microwave. Stir in mini marshmallows and microwave until melted. Stir in vanilla and orange cake mix. Add Rice Krispies and vanilla chips and stir to evenly coat. Turn out into a sprayed 13’x9″ pan, and press out evenly in pan. Cool.

Orange Creamsicle Buttercream:
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp orange extract
2-4 Tbl orange juice
food coloring

Whip butter with electric mixer. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and orange extract. Mix well. Add enough orange juice until creamy spreading consistency. mix in a couple drops each of red and yellow food coloring to make desired orange color. Spread evenly over orange rice krispies treats.

One Year Ago: Dark Chocolate Snack Cake

Two Years Ago: S’more Ice Cream Cake

Three Years Ago: Harvest Grain & Pecan Pancakes/Waffles

Chewy Peanut Payday Bars

OK, if you are nuts about nuts like me, you will love these bars! This is an easy recipe with amazing peanutty, peanut buttery, marshmallowy goodness! I found this recipe at averiecooks.com. These bars are comparable to another delicious bar, Salted Peanut Marshmallow Bars. Both are so good, I suggest making them both and doing a taste test to decide your favorite, why not?

Crust Layer:
6 Tbl butter, softened
3/4 cup flour
1/4 cup brown sugar

Marshmallow Layer:
3 cups miniature marshmallows

Nutty Topping Layer:
1 heaping cup creamy peanut butter
1/3 cup light corn syrup
4 Tbl butter
1½ tsp vanilla
1½ cups peanuts (I used honey roasted, yum!)
1½ cups Rice Krispies cereal

Preheat oven to 350°. Line 8″x8″ baking pan with foil, leave overhang, spray with cooking spray.
Crust – Combine butter, flour and brown sugar. Mixture will be crumbly. Press mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes.Remove from oven but leave oven on.
Marshmallow Filling – Sprinkle marshmallows over crust and spread into even layer covering crust. Bake for 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.
Nutty Topping – In large microwave-safe bowl, combine peanut butter, corn syrup and butter; heat on high power 1 minute. Add vanilla and stir to combine. Stir in peanuts and Rice Krispies. Pour mixture over marshmallow layer, gently smoothing with spatula to create an even layer. Set pan aside to cool for at least 4 hours before slicing, or overnight; refrigerating the bars can be used to expedite the cooling process. Slice bars by lifting them out using the foil overhang and transfer to a cutting board.

 

Crisp Chocolate Truffles

This recipe came from a Christmas baking magazine years ago. It is easy as far as the ingredients, but a little time consuming with the dipping. We will call it a labor of love. When I dip truffles or chocolates I put in a good movie, get in the zone, and enjoy the ride. ;o)

1 (7 oz) jar marshmallow creme
2 Tbl butter
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups crisp rice cereal
1 (14 oz) pkg bittersweet chocolate chips
2 Tbl shortening
1/4 cup white baking chips, optional

In heavy saucepan combine marshmallow creme, butter, and semisweet chocolate chips. Cook over low heat until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat. Stir crisp rice cereal into chocolate mixture, mixing until thoroughly combined.
Drop by small scoopfuls onto silpat or waxed paper lined cookie sheet. Shape into round balls and refrigerate about 1 hour or until firm.

Melt bittersweet chocolate and shortening slowly over double boiler. Dip each chocolate ball in melted chocolate, let excess drip off, and place back on the silpat or waxed paper lined cookie sheet. I use two forks. One (my meat fork with long tines) to scoop up the chocolate covered truffle and let it sit on the tines, drip, and then swipe across the bottom (with a dinner fork) to remove excess chocolate. That is my way, let me know if you have a better way, I’m willing to learn! Melt white chips (if using) and place in zip lock bag.  Cut tiny hole in corner of bag and drizzle over truffles.  Refrigerate until firm. Place in small candy paper cups. Keep in airtight container.

Two Years Ago: Double Chocolate Coconut Cookies

S’more Cereal Bars

This is a twist on a good ol’ simple favorite! I found the recipe on the back of a generic marshmallow package, you just never know!

3 cups Cocoa Puffs
3 cups Golden Grahams
2 cups Rice Krispies
1/2 cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
1 (10 oz) bag mini marshmallows
2 Tbl milk

Spray 13″x9″ pan with nonstick spray. In large bowl stir together Cocoa Puffs, Golden Grahams, and Rice Krispies. Put peanut butter, mini marshmallows and milk in microwave safe bowl. Microwave on 50% power for 2 minutes, stirring after one minute. Cook longer if necessary, until melted; stir until completely combined. Pour marshmallow mixture over cereal and gently stir until all cereal is coated. Pour out into prepared pan. Spray fingers with nonstick spray and press mixture evenly into pan. When set up, cut into squares.

Two Years Ago: Pumpkin Sweet Rolls

Fruit & Honey Graham Granola

It is summer, and I always make granola. Why? Well, I did it one year to take with us on our family vacation to Sun Valley ID and then did it the next year and now…well it’s tradition! We can’t go without it, it just wouldn’t be right! Great for breakfast or snacking anytime.

3 cups Rice Krispies
2 cups chopped (chunks) graham crackers
4 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped dried apple
1/2 cup chopped dried banana
3/4 cup Craisins
1 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey

Preheat oven to 350°. In large bowl, stir together Rice Krispies, graham cracker, oats, almonds, raisins, apple, banana, and Craisins. In medium bowl, stir together melted butter, brown sugar, and honey. Pour over oat mixture and gently stir to coat. Spread evenly in two baking sheets sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake for 8 minutes, take out and stir. Trade tray placement in oven, top goes to bottom rack and bottom goes to top rack, bake for 8 minutes more. Remove and stir, trade placement of trays in oven again and bake for 8 minutes more. Watch closely, don’t want the granola too brown (stir again if necessary). After removing after third 8 minute baking, let trays of granola cool completely. Break into chunks, desired size and keep in in airtight container. Ready to crunch, yum!

You might want to check out these other granola recipes:
Pumpkin Pie Granola
Dark Chocolate Peanut Granola
Homemade Granola

 

One Year Ago: Summer Vegetable Tian

Two Years Ago: Jam Filled Sweet Muffins

Rocky Road Rice Krispie Treats

I don’t think I ate any meals today…just these Rocky Road Rice Krispie Treats. Addicting!

2 cups mini marshmallows
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Put mini marshmallows and chocolate chips in plastic bag and freeze for at least one hour.

8 cups Rice Krispies cereal
1 cup chopped walnuts
2 Tbl butter
1 (16 oz) bag mini marshmallows
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Spray a 13″x9″ pan with nonstick spray. Put Rice Krispies and walnuts in large bowl, set aside. Melt butter in microwave in large bowl. Add mini marshmallows, stir to coat and microwave 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between, until melted. Stir in the 1/2 cup chocolate chips, until melted. Pour over Rice Krispies/walnuts and quickly stir to coat. Add frozen marshmallows and chocolate chips and stir. Dump into prepared pan and press evenly into pan (I spray a clean hand and press). Let set up, eat!

One Year Ago: Peach Cobbler Cupcakes

Two Years Ago: Brownie Cookies with Toffee & Walnuts

Pumpkin Pie Granola

I love granola, when I make it I eat way too much of it.  I guess there are some health benefits in there somewhere.  This recipe is inspired by a picture I saw on Pinterest, thanks to dashingdish.com for a great idea.  This is my version of Pumpkin Pie Granola.

6 cups old fashioned oats
3 cups crispy rice cereal (Rice Krispies)
½ cup chopped dates
¾ cup chopped walnuts
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
½ tsp salt
½ cup butter
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 ¼ cups pure maple syrup
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup vanilla chips
1 cup graham cracker pieces

Preheat oven to 325°.  In large bowl, mix together oats, crispy rice cereal, dates, walnuts, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.  In microwave safe bowl, warm the butter, pumpkin, maple syrup , and brown sugar until melted together.  Add vanilla.  Pour over dry ingredients and stir gently until thoroughly combined.  Spread out evenly on two Silpat lined sheets or sprayed cookie sheets.  Bake for 30-40 minutes, gently stirring a couple times and spread out again during baking (keeping track of baking time).  Remove and cool completely (granola does set up and stay in clumps as it cools).  Stir in vanilla chips and graham cracker pieces.  Eat as a snack, in a bowl with milk or on top of ice cream, yogurt, you decide.  Store in airtight container.

One Year Ago:  Oreo Truffles 

If you are interested in Demarle bakeware and kitchen tools such as the Silpat & Perforated Baking Sheet please visit mydemarleathome.com/kristenparker or simply click on the Demarle at Home logo below.

Cake Mix Rice Krispie Treats

Just for fun!

1/2 cup butter
1  bag marshmallows
1 cup dry cake mix (I used confetti cake mix)
8 cups Rice Krispies cereal
sprinkles

Spray 9″x13″ cake pan with nonstick spray.  Measure cereal into large bowl.  In another bowl, melt together butter and marshmallows in microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring until melted.  Stir dry cake mix into marshmallow mixture and then pour over rice krispies.  Gently fold and stir until thoroughly combined.  Pour into prepared pan and press down evenly.  Sprinkle with sprinkles.  Let set up then cut into bars.  Try other cake mix flavors!

If you are interested in Demarle bakeware and kitchen tools please visit mydemarleathome.com/kristenparker or simply click on the Demarle at Home logo below.