granola balls (gluten-free, dairy-free)

So let's just say that I am kind of, a little bit, maybe...obsessed with these.

I make them once a week.

I really love them...and it's a bit ridiculous.

I have been making granola bars for a few years now, and I am always trying to perfect my already "perfected" recipe. Yeah, kind of pathetic. Oh well. But truly, this one is divine.

Yesterday I got vaccinated for Tetanus. Do you know that you have to get it every 5 years? I didn't. Since I am going to be teaching 5th grade this year (in like 2 days! ah!), I had to get it. After sticking me with the needle, they handed me a sheet of paper that listed all the possible risks and problems following the vaccine. "You may experience a fever over 102 degrees F, headache, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and swelling of the entire arm..." Blah, blah, blah. I tossed it in my bag and forgot about it. Until about 2 o'clock this morning. I woke up with a fever and chills, my body was achy, and I was a vomit machine. (Hmmm...how do you like that mental image?) Needless to say, I was sick as a dog all day. And my chances of getting sick? 1 out of 300. Lucky me.

The only thing I could keep down were these little guys. Thank the stars for 'em.

And who doesn't love a granola ball - making party?

Every couple weeks, I get together with my favorite girls and we have a blast whether it's shopping, making granola bars/balls, or just chatting. 

Every girl deserves a girls night every once in a while. :)

Granola Balls

gluten-free, dairy-free


2 cups oats (gluten-free certified, if preferred)
2 cups puffed rice cereal
1/2 cup raisins (or dried cranberries or chocolate chips)
1/4 cup dry roasted peanuts
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup brown sugar (or sucanat)
1 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. In a large bowl, mix together rice cereal, oats, and raisins. 
2. In a smaller bowl, stir together honey, sugar, and peanut butter, and heat in microwave until warm and slightly bubbly (about 30 seconds). Remove bowl from microwave and give the mixture a good stir. Place back in microwave and warm for another 30ish seconds. Remove and stir in vanilla, salt, and cinnamon.
3. Pour peanut butter mixture over dry cereal mixture. Mix well. Wet your hands with cold water. Grab a palm-ful of granola and form into a ball, making sure to apply as much pressure as you can so the ball does not fall apart. Continue to do this until all the granola mixture is formed into balls. (This recipe will make about 25 granola balls.)
4. Place the granola balls into a large ziploc baggie and store them in the freezer or fridge. This will help them last longer.

*Feel free to make all sorts of flavor combinations. A really good one is Nutella Granola Balls. Simply omit the raisins, peanuts, brown sugar, peanut butter, salt, and cinnamon. Mix together 1 cup Nutella with a few spoonfuls of warmed honey and vanilla. Pour that over the dry cereal/oat mixture and mix well. Form into balls, place in a large ziploc baggie and freeze/refrigerate until ready to eat.