5 Easy Steps to the Perfect Peanut Butter Oat Bites.

It’s no secret that cooking and baking aren’t totally my thing. It’s not that I can’t do it, it’s just more that I’m not a natural cook, so it takes a lot of work; I need to follow a recipe, I’m not very good with guess work, and I dread running to the grocery store to scoop up those last couple key ingredients that aren’t in the cupboards. I love a good meal, so have beautifully mastered the art of takeout. BUT.. in an effort to be more proactive after the work day is finished, I’ve been trying to push myself into the kitchen a little more.

Andrew and I have been trying to eat more of a plant based diet while at home so a few weeks ago he was inspired to scoop up Toni Okamoto’s vegan cookbook, Plant-Based on a Budget. This is a great cookbook for ‘new’ vegans or vegetarians, as I feel it uses a lot of basic ingredients you probably already have at home. I was inspired by her recipe for Five-Ingredient Peanut Butter Bites - but strayed a bit (for the first time) and added my own spin.

Peanut Butter Oat Bites

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Servings: 12 bites

Ingredients:

2 eggs

1 cup peanut butter - I used chunky because that’s what we always have on hand

2/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/3 cup chocolate chips

*Toni’s recipe calls for two ripe bananas instead of eggs, you can also use applesauce as an egg substitute if you want a vegan option( (but of course then no chocolate chips for you). The bananas are great for the added nutrients, but I tried both ways and discovered I liked the egg version’s texture a little better.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease muffin tin

2. In a mixing bowl combine eggs, peanut butter and oats and mix with hand mixer for three minutes until blended

3. Gently mix in cranberries and chocolate chips

4. Spoon batter into muffin tin, filling cups halfway

5. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown

6. Store in a sealed container in the fridge for 3-4 days and enjoy an easy grab and go snack!

These bites have been an easy snack to whip up on Sunday afternoons, and keep stored in the fridge and grab throughout the week while on the go! The peanut butter and oats are filling, and in the afternoon the little taste of chocolate is the perfect pick me up! Bonus for me, Andrew likes them too, though I make half for him without the cranberries! Easy peasy, happy snacking!