Easy, Nourishing & Delish Recipes

healthy, easy, simple and tasty recipes for busy people

easy recipes

Pecan Fig No-Bake Granola Bars with Coconut Glaze {Gluten-Free + Vegan!}

by 61 Comments

In need of a healthy snack that will satisfy you hunger as well as your sweet tooth?  Make these Pecan Fig No-Bake Granola Bars with a Coconut Glaze that take no more than 10 minutes to make! Also Gluten-Free and Vegan!

In need of a healthy snack that will satisfy you hunger as well as your sweet tooth? Make these No-Bake Pecan Fig Granola Bars with a Coconut Glaze that take no more than 10 minutes to make! Also Gluten-Free and Vegan!Fun fact: I used to eat granola bars like it was my job.  In fact, the Quaker chewy granola bars were my favorite. Back when I was 10 years old, I thought these bars were actually good for me.  

Ya know, the chocolate dipped ones with the sugary peanut butter and partially-hydrogenated oils.  My ten year old self thought way different about food than I do now.  

My ten year-old self’s mentality was more like this about “healthy food:” “oh these granola bars are healthy and good for me?  I’ll eat ten in one sitting.”

In need of a healthy snack that will satisfy you hunger as well as your sweet tooth? Make these No-Bake Pecan Fig Granola Bars with a Coconut Glaze that take no more than 10 minutes to make! Also Gluten-Free and Vegan!

Okay, maybe not in one sitting, but I could easily polish off a box in one day.  They were my favorite part about lunch time at school, afternoon snack when I got home, and my post-dinner snack.  Ok, so I guess you get the picture about my love for granola bars.

In need of a healthy snack that will satisfy you hunger as well as your sweet tooth? Make these No-Bake Pecan Fig Granola Bars with a Coconut Glaze that take no more than 10 minutes to make! Also Gluten-Free and Vegan!

Thankfully in my later teenage years, I realized that these granola bars dubbed “healthy” were actually not healthy at all.  And I figured out that making my own granola bars are not only fun to create, but also extremely easy to make!

In need of a healthy snack that will satisfy you hunger as well as your sweet tooth? Make these No-Bake Pecan Fig Granola Bars with a Coconut Glaze that take no more than 10 minutes to make! Also Gluten-Free and Vegan!

Coconut, fig and pecans are  amazing flavors, but when put together , they become a unity of glory.  They are sweet without any refined sugars, soft and chewy with all-natural ingredients!  Oh, and you can make them in 10 minutes flat!  Need I say more?

Coconut Glazed Fig and Pecan No Bake Granola Bars

Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Freezer time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 8 granola bars

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup gluten-free old fashioned oats
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
  • 1/2 cup chopped dried figs
  • 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1/2 cup almond butter
  • 2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
  • 2 Tbsp. coconut oil
  • 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Add all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well until all ingredients are combined.
  • place parchment paper on the bottom of a shallow bowl and add granola mixture. Press down in an even layer. Add more pecans and dried figs on top (if desired)
  • Place in freezer for 30 minutes and cut into bars.
  • For glaze, combine all ingredients together and drizzle over bars.
  • Enjoy!

In need of a healthy snack that will satisfy you hunger as well as your sweet tooth? Make these No-Bake Pecan Fig Granola Bars with a Coconut Glaze that take no more than 10 minutes to make! Also Gluten-Free and Vegan!

Pin for Later!

In need of a healthy snack that will satisfy you hunger as well as your sweet tooth? Make these No-Bake Pecan Fig Granola Bars with a Coconut Glaze that take no more than 10 minutes to make! Also Gluten-Free and Vegan!

Check out these other Healthy Granola Bar Recipes!

Banana Nut Granola Bars

photo-221

Cinnamon Pecan Pumpkin Granola Bars

photo-129

Easy and Healthy Dessert for Breakfast: Cocoa-Dusted Cherry Polenta Breakfast Pudding

by 1 Comment


Want a new change from your same old breakfast choices? Well God just answered your prayer with this beauty.  So rich and creamy, you will think you are eating dessert!  This polenta pudding is as easy to make as oatmeal and can satisfy a  sweet tooth in a few minutes!  You would have never thought of eating polenta at breakfast, but I promise you if you do, you will be one happy camper! 🙂

photo 2

Cocoa-Dusted Cherry Polenta Breakfast Pudding

  • 1/4 cup dry polenta
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 tbsp full-fat coconut milk (can add a bit more for extra creaminess)
  • 1 tsp cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1 tsp crushed walnuts
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • sprinkle of unsweetened flaked coconut
  • Cocoa-Dusted Cherries (recipe below!)

1. In a bowl, combine polenta and water

2. Microwave polenta mixture for about 1 1/2 minutes, or until the polenta absorbs all the liquid

3.Combine Polenta Mixture with coconut milk, stir well

4. Mix all remaining ingredients into the polenta pudding

5. Top with more crushed walnuts, coconut, and cocoa-dusted cherries, if desired

6. Enjoy!  

Cocoa-Dusted Cherries

  • 6 dark red/black cherries, pitted and halved
  • 1 tbsp cocoa powder

1. In a small bowl, coat cherries with cocoa powder

2. Microwave for about 1 1/2 minutes, or until hot and juicy

3. Stir into polenta pudding

4. Enjoy! 🙂  

photo 4

Health Benefits

  • 100% clean
  • All Natural
  • No preservatives
  • Non-Gmo
  • No added sugar
  • Fiber
  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Vegan
  • Healthy fats
  • Vitamins, minerals, antioxidants
  • Protein
  • Low Glycemic Carbs

photo 3

Spinach and Garlic Potato Stuffed Portabellos

by 2 Comments

 

Mushrooms are good, portabellos are even better, but stuffed portabellos are the best! These big, meaty monsters have been hanging around in my fridge for the past few days, so I decided to make something with them, something creamy, something filling, something delicious! These stuffed bundles will satisfy meat lovers and vegetarians alike! These are a wonderful and filling dinner to satisfy your nutritional needs and taste buds! Think of them like a double stuffed potato, but mushroom style! It taste like garlic mashed potatoes are stuffed into these mushrooms, creating a creamy and in-your-face flavor!

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset

Spinach and Garlic Potato Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

  • 6 portabella mushrooms, stemmed and washed
  • 2 potatoes, cooked and skins peeled off
  • 1 cup spinach
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 small tomato, sliced
  • shredded mozzarella cheese, or vegan cheese (optional)
  1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Place mushrooms on cooking sheet and spray with cooking spray.  Cook for about 20-25 minutes, or until mushrooms are tender.
  2. While mushrooms are cooking, Place potatoes, spinach, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper in a food processor.  Blend for about 1 minute, or until mixture is smooth.
  3. Fill mushrooms with potato mixture and top with sliced tomatoes and cheese (if desired).
  4. Bake an additional 15 minutes.
  5. Enjoy! 

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset

 Health Benefits

  • Paleo
  • Vegan
  • Gluten free
  • Vitamins and minerals
  • Antioxidants
  • Low Calorie
  • No preservatives
  • Low fat
  • All-natural
  • 100% clean

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset

Fast Fix: Low Calorie Microwaved Zucchini Bread

by 1 Comment

Who doesn’t love zucchini bread?  Its so moist and delicious and an easy way to sneak in an extra serving of veggies.  But what most people do not know is that it is laden with extra fat  and sugar from 1 cup oil and 2 cups of sugar for one loaf!  Thankfully, this recipe is just as delicious, but only sweetened with a little bit of honey and a dash of cinnamon.  You won’t find any added fat in this recipe either , because it has barely any.  Not to mention this recipe is only about 173 CALORIES (meaning you save about 150 for a regular slice).  Plus its made in a mere 5 MINUTES!  Whats not to love about this?

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset

Fast Fix: Microwaved Zucchini Bread

  • 1/4 small zucchini, chopped
  • 1 egg white (can substitute 2 tbsp applesauce or mashed banana for vegan option)
  • 1/3 cup oats
  • 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp. honey
  • 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp. baking powder
  • 3 walnuts
  1. Place all ingredients in a food processor.  Blend for about 30 seconds, or until mixture is smooth.
  2. Spray cooking spray in a small mug or ramekin.  Add mixture and microwave for about 4 minutes (or until fully cooked).
  3. Top with chocolate-hazelnut cream,  if desired.
  4. Enjoy!

Recipe for Hazelnut cream is on the link below!

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset

 Health Benefits

  • Protein
  • Fiber
  • Vitamins
  • Minerals
  • Gluten-free
  • Can be vegan if applesauce is subbed for egg white
  • Vegetarian-friendly
  • no added sugar
  • no preservatives
  • all-natural

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset

What’s your favorite healthy quick bread???

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset

Microwave Salted Caramel and Banana English Muffin

by 9 Comments

So it happened again, I got a little too carried away made another english muffin.  They are just so easy quick and delicious that I could not help myself!  But this time I made a more unique flavor. Bananas + Salted Caramel = HEAVEN!  Add some natural peanut butter and the rest of the banana, and you got yourself a beautiful, fiber-filling, tasty breakfast in a mere 4 minutes!

Processed with VSCOcam with c1 preset

 

  • 1/3 cup oat flour (1/3 cup pulverized oats)
  • 1/2 small banana
  • 1 egg white (2 Tbsp. applesauce for a vegan option)
  • 1 prune
  • 4 whole unsalted cashews
  • 1/8 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/8 tsp. flaked salt
  • 1/8 tsp. vanilla extract
  1. Add all ingredients into a food processor and pulverize for about 30 seconds (or until ingredients are fully mixed.
  2. Spray cooking spray in a mug and add mixture.
  3. microwave for about 2 1/2 – 3 minutes (or until fully cooked).
  4. Top with natural peanut butter and the other half of banana, if desired.
  5. Enjoy!

Processed with VSCOcam with c1 preset

 

 

Health Benefits

  • Fiber from the oats and prune
  • Vitamins B, E, and K  from oats
  • Protein from egg white
  • Potassium and natural sugars from banana
  • antioxidants
  • all-natural
  • no sugar added
  • 100% clean
  • no preservatives

Processed with VSCOcam with c1 preset

 

 

 

Show Buttons
Hide Buttons