This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SpreadTheMagic #CollectiveBias You can create a high-protein gluten-free delicious snack for kids without ever turing on the stovetop or oven. This fool-proof recipe for Caramel Apple Pecan Energy Bites tastes like caramel apples but is packed with protein and flavor. They’re super easy to make and require no baking – just mix, roll and eat! Plus, get a FREE 20 Page Food Pairs Activity Pack for kids. Teach kids about peanut butter and other popular food pairings.
My kids love sweet treats. And I don’t mind a sweet treat for them now and then, but I’m always looking for ways to sneak more fiber and protein into their diets. Our family loves the flavors of caramel apples and apple pie, but I needed a treat that would pack in some protein – voila’ – energy bites!
They say “necessity is the mother of invention” – or maybe it should say mothers are the mother of invention 😉 – so I created these crunchy, sweet, and fiber-packed Caramel Apple Pecan Energy Bites. As long as no one in your family has an allergy to nuts – this recipe is the perfect creation for a parent who wants more protein and fiber in their kid’s snacking. Plus, this recipe takes advantage of the creamy and crunchy texture combination of Peter Pan’s® Simply Ground Peanut Butter. And, since there are no artificial preservatives – it’s a healthy alternative to convenience foods.
Now I styled this recipe after our fall favorites like Carmel Apple Pecan Pie and Carmel Apples, but if you like chocolate, you can also throw in 1/2 cup of chocolate chips to get a cross between a peanut butter cup and a caramel apple – I know – it’s crazy good!
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High Protein Snacking
I think kids and moms alike will enjoy these Caramel Apple Pecan Energy Bites. It’s the perfect solution for parents looking for high protein snacking options that are great for kids. Perfect for after-school or on-the-go snacking and great for parents with kids enrolled in sports needing a quick snack after practice. You can easily adapt the recipe to add raisins, chocolate chips, and other dried fruits and nuts to taste.
Plus, with Peter Pan’s® NEW Simply Ground Peanut Butter, you’ll never have to choose between creamy or crunchy again. With this new Peanut Butter, you can have the best of both worlds. So if one of your kids prefers crunchy or creamy while the other prefers the opposite – you’ve got them both covered. And, with this post, you can also download your FREE 20 Page Food Pairs Activity Pack (peanut butter clip art included).
Ingredients for no bake Caramel Apple Pecan Energy Bites
- 1 cup rolled (not instant) oats
- ½ cup Peter Pan’s® NEW Simply Ground Peanut Butter
- ½ cup diced dried apple pieces
- ½ cup chopped pecan pieces
- ½ cup ground flax seed
- ½ cup caramel pieces
- ⅓ cup honey
- 1 dash of apple pie spice (optional)
- 1 tsp vanilla
Step 1: Gather ingredients. Put all your ingredients into a bowl. As long as you have the 1/2 cup of Peter Pan’s® Simply Ground Peanut Butter and 1/3 cup honey – you can add any combination of 4-5 other 1/2 cup ingredients to create your own version of these energy bites. As I mentioned earlier, adding 1/2 a cup of chocolate chips turns this recipe into a mix between peanut butter cups and caramel apples. Yum!
Step 2: Mix the ingredients. Using a spatula or spoon, mix all ingredients until they are throughly combined. Make sure the dried apple slices and pecans have been chopped into small 1/4″ to 1/2″ pieces before mixing.
Step 3: Roll into 1″ – 2″ balls. Use your spoon or spatula to scoop out small chunks of the mix and gently roll the mixture into balls approximately 1 1/2″ in diameter. You can use parchment paper to keep them separated. Store them in an air tight container in the fridge for a week or freeze them for up to three months in the freezer. You can take these out in the morning and by lunch they’ll be defrosted and ready to eat. This recipe yields approximately 12 Caramel Apple Pecan Energy Bites.
FREE 20 Page Food Pairs Activity Pack
Speaking of Peanut Butter, I’ve created a fun 20 Page activity pack for kids to teach them about food pairs. Food pairs are combinations of foods that are commonly mentioned together. Things like: salt and pepper, peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese, and others. The Food Pairs Activity Pack includes:
- 15 Activities for young children and includes 20 pages:
- 8 Coloring Pages
- 2 Connect the Food Pairs
- 3 Food Puzzles
- 16 flashcards with Food Pairs for
Matching or Memory Game
Have fun teaching your kids about food combinations and some of the great uses for peanut butter!
Where can you find Peter Pan’s® NEW Simply Ground Peanut Butter?
You can find Peter Pan’s® Simply Ground Peanut Butter at Walmart. You may also be able to try samples during a demonstration. Be on the lookout for free samples and a 50 cents off coupon.
In case you miss the demos, take the peanut butter personality quiz (so fun) and get the coupon at Peter Pan® online.
What Peanut Butter Flavor Fits Your Personality?
Did you take the peanut butter personality quiz? What peanut putter flavor fits your personality? Did you try the Caramel Apple Pecan Energy Bites? What did you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation. I always love hearing from my readers.
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P.S. – I blog to encourage moms, offer free preschool tools, and share ideas for family fun. If you enjoy free recipes, printables, crafts and games for little ones, ideas for family fun and encouraging posts for moms, sign up and have Happy and Blessed Home delivered to your inbox. Simply enter your e-mail address here:
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