No-Bake Crispy Kitchen Sink {or Peanut Butter Oatmeal} Bites

I came home from running errands the other day desperate for something sweet. I didn’t want anything too rich and was feeling pretty lazy so I sifted through a bunch of no-bake cookie recipes I’ve used before. Not in the mood to turn on the oven, stand over the stove or even use the microwave (I know, the horror!) I settled on an old, obscure, hand written recipe that required no heat whatsoever. I got my peanut butter to oil to oats ration there but decided on my own add ins based on what was already open on the baking shelf in the pantry. I’m not going to preach that these are “healthy” per-say, but they do not contain any eggs, flour, or butter- which is great in my opinion. We make enough treats in my house to acknowledge that the absence of eggs, flour, and butter in a treat we really love is fantastic. Plus oats, nuts, seeds and flax really are pretty nutritious so I’m happy that Lilly loves them.

No-Bake Crispy Kitchen Sink (or Peanut Butter Oatmeal) Bites

Makes: about 40 bites

Ingredients:

• 2 and cups old fashioned or quick oats
• 1/2 cup rice crispies
• 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut
• 1/2 cup mini m&m’s
• 1/2 white chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• 2 Tbsp ground flax seed
• 1 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup vegetab;e oil
• 1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, stir together the oats, rice crispies, coconut, m&m’s, white chocolate, raisins, flax seed, and salt together.
2. In a separate bowl, mix the peanut butter, honey, vegetable oil, and vanilla.
3. Stir the peanut butter mixture into the oats and mix together until all of the oat mixture is coated.
4. Place the mixture in the refrigerator for about half an hour to let the peanut butter mixture set up and get stiffer.
5. When the mixture is chilled, form it into 1” rounds with a cookie or ice cream scoop and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
6. Store in the refrigerator.

The real beauty of this recipe lies not only in its quick and easy prep but also in the ease in which it can be adapted to suit your families tastes. Any nut, dried fruit, type of chocolate, seed or seed meal can be added in. Here are a few combo I’m going to try next time:

1. Cherry, pistachio and dark chocolate chips
2. Dried apricot, almond and dark chocolate chips
3. Dried cranberries, macadamia nuts, white chocolate chips
4. Mini marshmallows, milk chocolate and cashews
5. Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, dried apple

What sounds best to you??