This blog has moved!

You should be automatically redirected in 5 seconds. If not, visit:
www.dessertswithbenefits.com

September 4, 2011

Maple Oat "Petit Fours"

This blog has moved!

You should be automatically redirected in a few seconds. If not, click here:
www.dessertswithbenefits.com

These are not granola bites, and they are not cubed cookies.


They are soft, they are chewy.
They are moist, they are tasty.



Edit:  they are dang tasty!

And they don't need to be baked!  Who wants to turn on an oven when its 105 degrees outside?
Um, not me.  And probably you too... unless you live in a fridge.


I was originally trying to make Oatmeal & Fruit Jam Bars, but I didn't feel like cutting up pieces of parchment paper and lining a brownie pan (silly reason I know), so instead, I pressed the mixture meant for the crust into a chocolate mold.  As I was eating a petit four, I realized that the texture was really soft, similar to Larabars.  The petit fours were moist from the oat flour and maple syrup, making these cute like cubes low-glycemic and more likely to sustain your energy and hunger for a longer time.  They were really nutty due to the flax, and I immediately wanted another one.

Quantity control, Jessica, control!  Let's just say I took another one.  Or three.


Maple Oat Petit Fours:  [no bake, low fat, high protein, GF, vegan]
(makes 24 one inch cubes)

   96g (1 cup) Old Fashioned Rolled Oats (GF if you like)
   60g (2 cups) Crispy Brown Rice Cereal
   64g (2 scoops) Vanilla Protein Powder
   52g (1/2 cup) Ground Flaxseed
   1/4 tsp Sea Salt

   42g (3 tbs) Coconut Oil, liquid
   168g (1/2 cup) Pure Maple Syrup (I used Grade B)
   2 tsp Vanilla Extract
   3/4 tsp Stevia Extract
   1/4 tsp Maple Flavor

Optional Add-Ins:
   2-4 tbs Natural Peanut Butter
   1/4 cup Dried Fruit (chopped if they are large)
   1 tsp Cinnamon

Directions:
1.  Blend the oats and rice cereal in a blender (I like to see some oats in there, so I didn't blend for too long) enough to get most of it as flour.
2.  Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, mix together the oat/rice cereal mixture with the protein powder, flax and salt.
3.  In a medium-sized bowl, stir together the coconut oil, maple syrup and extracts.  Mix into the dry ingredients (should have a moist crumble consistency).  Add any optional add-ins now.
4.  Line a loaf pan with parchment paper, or just get out your chocolate mold, and press the mixture in until compact (the mixture may stick to your fingers.  I wrapped my fingers in saran wrap which helped )
5.  Refrigerate for at least an hour.
6.  Pop out the "petit fours" and they are ready!  If you are using a loaf pan, remove from the container and slice into desired size.  Bars would be great too!  Store covered in the fridge.

Note:  these are really soft at room temperature (which is a good thing!), and a little more firm when on the cold side... I prefer it at room temp, but it's your choice. I topped a couple petit fours with strawberry jam this morning (sooo gooood), but if you are using cinnamon in the mix, I wouldn't recommend the jam on top... not a good match in my opinion!

PS:  now that I think of it, what would be great is a petit four dipped slightly into dark chocolate... similar to those Nature Valley Granola Thins... yum!

8 comments:

  1. Hi! Is there anyway to substitute the protein powder? I have all the ingredients but that! :D These look good!! :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. Qi Ting,
    I'm not sure... maybe try replacing it with more oat flour? It might change the taste and texture though.
    -Jess

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hey! I'm really enjoying your blog Jessica! Thanks for these wonderful recipes! I'll be coming back often!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hey, I love this initiative of yours! I'm a fellow nutritional sciences student from around the other side of the world, and I have to say I enjoy all your recipes. However, you may want to reconsider your choice of oil, coconut oil has between 85 and 90% saturated fat. As a general rule, olive oil is preferred as it is lower in saturated fat. (Dietician's Association, Australia)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Educate yourself first... don't listen to what "they" say. Coconut oil is one of the best things you can put into your body! It might be high in saturated fat, but it's the good, plant-derived kind. Coconut oil is over 50% monolaurin which is the stuff in mothers milk that gives babies their immunities. it is antifungal, antibacterial, antiparasitic, antimicrobial and a few others I forgot. It has been proven in a study that coconut oil actually reduces belly fat in conjunction with moderate exercise (walking) and no change in eating habits. Read about it... you'll be amazed! :)

      Delete
  5. Carly,
    Yes, I know that coconut oil has a high saturated fat content, but saturated fats are still necessary in the daily diet! I make sure to use it sparingly in my recipes, at most around 1-3 tbs. I also don't eat meat very often, and I would rather consume saturated fats from a plant source. Liquid oils such as olive and walnut wouldn't hold these petit fours together : (
    Overall, coconut oil is much better than a stick of butter! : )
    -Jess

    For more info:
    -http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/coconut-oil-diet-miracle-fad
    -http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/coconut-oil-and-health?page=2
    -http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1092-COCONUT%20OIL.aspx?activeIngredientId=1092&activeIngredientName=COCONUT%20OIL

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ooo, these look like the oat versions of Larabars!!! Looks so tasty!!!

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...