Wednesday 20 August 2014

Guilt Free Birthday Cake Bars





IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Which means every day this week is my birthday, right? Correct. Especially now that I am old and nobody really remembers my birthday sometimes including but not limited to...myself.

I remember being young and HATING having a late-August birthday. Everyone was always away and people could never make it to my birthdays.

But now that I have all these fun baking ideas....people will want to celebrate with me -- see...you can buy friends! With these:









Soft, pillowy cakey bars that are magically no-bake and super easy to make. Oh and good for you. Except the sprinkles...BUT IT'S MY BIRTHDAY AND I WILL CRY AND EAT SPRINKLES IF I WANT TO.
















Speaking of crying do you cry on your birthday? I always do. Sometimes for the silliest reasons like someone forgetting or having to work or remembering I am now at that age where no one really buys you presents anymore so I buy myself presents and bake myself things and eat them in the fetal position an--- oh.....you don't do that?...

MOVING ON.












Did that distract you? I sure hope so!

If there was ever a time to give yourself a little leeway then I would say your birthday is such an occasion! I am not super strict on myself (uh hello -- have you seen my blog?) but of course if you want to omit any ingredients you can!


I won't. I will put the sprinkles on all the things.








Because life is too short to fuss about the little things. And look how small sprinkles are. They are the littlest of things, aren't they?

So don't be a Debbie Downer (which Debbie do you think inspired this phrase? All the Debbies I know are happy and have snack cakes) and enjoy a little birthday fun with ME. Because I sure could use the company and you guys are the best company a gal could ask for!


Plus it's no-bake. Come on. No reasons not to make these!





No-Bake Guilt Free Birthday Cake Bars 

Yields 16 Bars
Gluten Free, High Protein 

Ingredients:


  • 1 1/3 cup oat flour
  • 1/3 cup peanut flour (or more oat flour)
  • 1/3 cup almond flour
  • 1 cup vanilla brown rice protein (SunWarrior or you can use vanilla Whey protein!)
  • 1/4 cup sprinkles*
  • 1/3 cup mini marshmallows**
  • 1/2 cup nut butter spread (any brand/kind you choose)
  • 1/2 cup liquid sweetener (agave, maple syrup, brown rice syrup, coconut nectar, honey, etc)
  • 5 drops NOW Foods English Toffee Stevia Drops (optional) 
  • 3 drops LorAnn's Cake Batter Flavour Drops 
  • 1/4 - 1/3 cup almond milk 
  • For Frosting Layer
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1 tablespoon cream cheese/cream cheese substitute (non-dairy)
  • 1 tablespoon shredded coconut 
  • 1-2 tablespoon white chocolate chips 
  • For Ganache
  • 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil 
  • Toppings: Sprinkles, Chocolate Candies, Etc! 
*Sprinkles are not sugar free, but hey -- it's my birthday! Also my local health food store has vegan/natural sprinkles which are really great if you are vegan and miss sprinkles!

** I was also able to find vegan marshmallows! Cut them into pieces to make 'mini marshmallows' 

Directions:



  1. Line an 8x8 pan with aluminum foil or plastic wrap for easy clean up
  2. Mix all dry ingredients (except those for the ganache) in a large mixing bowl and stir until combined
  3. In a small sauce pan heat the nut butter, sweetener and stevia (if using) until thoroughly combined, stirring occasionally 
  4. Pour liquid mixture onto dry mixture using almond milk to add to mixture only until it forms a large ball (you may need less or more almond milk depending on the ingredients you use!)
  5. Press into lined pan until flat and even and place in the fridge to set for at least 30 minutes
  6. For Frosting: Melt the coconut oil and microwave until softened/melted 
  7. Add in chocolate chips, cream cheese/substitute and coconut and stir until fully combined 
  8. Spread over bar layer using the back of a spoon until evenly spread
  9. Place back in the fridge to set for at least 30 minutes 
  10. For ganache: Melt all ingredients in a microwave safe bowl and stir until combined
  11. Pour over dough mixture and tap the pan to eliminate air bubbles
  12. Place in fridge to set for 30-60 minutes
  13. Cut into 16 squares and enjoy!
  14. Keep refrigerated if your climate is hot! 




Et voila. Happy Birthday! To me and to you and to her and him, too!




I wish I could just eat this whole pan. THEY ARE SO SOFT AND BIRTHDAY CAKE-Y!














The layers look really beautiful sliced, too! Just look at those marshmallows peeking through!











They really add to the soft/chewy texture of these bars. I LOVE THE SPRINKLES! I am such a visual person. For me -- colours are like this amazing and wonderful thing to take in and to admire and to trigger thoughts and feelings. And rainbows = happiness. Really. When was the last time you looked at a rainbow and thought damn that rainbow is all depressing and sad and stuff. NEVER. At least I hope not.














Because then these would make you sad. And I cannot have that at ALL.












Because being sad on your birthday is not fun. And it's my birthday..(week)...so you can't be sad either. And if you get sad -- (no)bake these bars instead.


Or these birthday donuts. Or even these birthday cake bars.  Either way!



And we can hang out and eat birthday cake things together.


And I will compliment you on your perceived weight loss and you will tell me how I don't look a day over 21. We will laugh and cry and eat and bake and be merry.



Who can say no to that?


So from my kitchen to yours -- whenever your birthday is -- BE HAPPY..


Because we aren't that old yet.


Happy Birthday-ing!

XO


34 comments:

  1. these bars look delicious and so pretty.. loving all the sprinkle action going on. definitely craving a bite!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Thalia! They are delicious...and quickly disappearing which makes me so sad!

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  2. they look so fun and yummy!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Dina! I am glad you think so! They are really fun. I don't often get to play with sprinkles!

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  3. I only made the bar layer - it already seemed so decadent with both marshmallows and sprinkles that I didn't want to add more! At first bite I didn't think I like it. Then I finished the bar and couldn't stop myself from eating three in a row every time I dug into the pan!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hahahah they will have that effect won't they ;)

      Delete
  4. Can you substitute for the sun warrior for a optimum nutrition vanilla whey protein?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Alex! Absolutely. I use whey all the time in my recipes too!

      Delete
  5. Can you substitute the Almond flour with coconut flour and Almond milk with soy milk? Peanut allergies....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello! Almond milk with soy milk and any kind of nut/seed butter you choose! I would use more oat flour instead of coconut flour only because coconut flour needs so much moisture it can make them dry. Always worth experimenting though :)!

      Delete
  6. Can I use peanut flour instead of oat flour and almond flour?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love peanut flour! I feel like you probably can! Might change the texture. Definitely will change the flavour because it's very 'pea-nutty' lol

      Delete
  7. is there a nutritional value of the recipe

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