Today I’m delighted to be a part of a virtual baby shower for Sonja and Alex of A Couple Cooks. They recently adopted their little baby boy, Larson, and my heart is filled with joy for them. Even before starting my own blog, I’d been a long time reader of Sonja and Alex’s blog for their healthy and simple recipes, and many of our weeknight dinners have been inspired by them. Over time as they’ve shared more about their journey to become parents, I’ve also come to deeply admire their faith to wait and trust in the midst of trials and uncertainty. After all that they’ve been through, it’s especially sweet to see their little Larson finally at home with them. To celebrate Larson and to honor Sonja and Alex, a group of bloggers (a big thank you to Melissa, Ashley, and Sarah for organizing!) have put together a “healthy snacks” themed shower, and I’m sharing these fun and easy muffin tin granola cups. Sonja and Alex, I couldn’t be happier for you both.
These granola cups have some resemblance to a thin and crispy granola bar, except these of course are shaped into mini-bowls, which makes them fillable and much more fun to eat. Bound together with blend of almond butter, brown rice syrup, and olive oil, once you have the basic recipe there are so many ways to vary it up with different nuts and seeds. I filled these cups with lemon greek yogurt sweetened with a bit of honey, but next time I’m thinking of using chopped peanuts and peanut butter in the granola and finishing it a dollop of chocolate yogurt and sliced bananas. For other healthy snack inspirations, be sure to check out some of the other posts by many of my favorite bloggers in the links below.
Flourishing Foodie | Avocado and Asparagus Tartines with Basil Pesto
The Full Helping | Individual Strawberry Chocolate Crisps
Snixy Kitchen | Roasted Lemon Mint Pesto Tartines, Two Ways
This Mess Is Ours | Coriander & Lime Scented Cashews
Making Thyme for Health | Hemp Ranch Hummus
Two Red Bowls | Buttered Eggs on Toast, with Radish & Parsley
Cookie and Kate | World’s Greatest Guacamole
Dolly and Oatmeal | Sunshine Mung Bean Spread w/ Gluten-Free Za’atar Bread
Edible Perspective | Tropical Oatmeal Snack Cookies
Eat This Poem | Red Pepper and Walnut Hummus
Brooklyn Supper | Roasted Cauliflower Tacos with Cilantro-Avocado Sauce
The Fauxmartha | Laura’s Sunshine Crackers
FoodieCrush | Baked Beet Chips
Harvest and Honey | A Healthy Candy Bar
Granola Cups
- 1½ cups rolled oats
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
- 1 tablespoon sunflower seeds
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- ¼ cup brown rice syrup
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons almond butter
- ¼ teaspoon fine grain sea salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- fresh berries, for serving
Honey Lemon Greek Yogurt
- 2 cups plain Greek yogurt
- 2-3 tablespoons honey
- zest of 1 large lemon
- Preheat the oven to 325. Lightly oil 9 muffin cups.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the oats, pecans, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds.
- In a small saucepan over medium low heat, whisk together the brown rice syrup, olive oil, almond butter, and salt until smooth. Remove from heat and whisk in the vanilla.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir until well combined and the oat mixture is evenly coated.
- Divide mixture into 9 muffin cups. Using a small piece of parchment paper and hands, press the granola into the bottom and up the sides of the muffin cup. (The back of a small spatula also helps too.)
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the edges start to become golden. Check on the granola cups about halfway through the baking time. If the cups seem to be collapsing a bit, simply re-press the granola back up the sides.
- Allow granola cups to sit for 2 minutes. While they are still warm, run a paring knife around the edges to loosen from the tin. As soon as the cups feel solid, gently remove granola cups from the tins and cool on a wire rack. Serve with honey lemon Greek yogurt and fresh berries.
Honey Lemon Greek Yogurt
- While the cups are baking, whisk together the yogurt with the lemon and honey to taste. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Gena says
These are just too adorable, Emily! I love the idea. Granola is lovely but it never actually keeps me full. Combining it with a non-dairy yogurt and some fruit does the trick, but then there’s the issue of portability. So, this is just about a perfect solution 🙂
Emily says
Thanks so much, Gena. Portable snacks make eating so much fun. 🙂 Happy weekend- hope you can find some time to be good to yourself. xo
Traci | Vanilla And Bean says
Such a sweet celebration, Emily with so much link inspiration! You know I’m a fan of granola… But these cups make such a beautiful presentation for sweet celebrations such as this – I’m thinking too, mother’s day brunch. Absolutely delicious!
Emily says
Thanks, Traci! I consider you the granola queen. 🙂 And agree, these would absolutely be so much fun on brunch menu!
Sonja says
AHHH thank you, Emily! Your words are so kind, and we are so honored by this post! Thank you for showering love on little Larson, and for connecting over this long journey to find our family. Also, this recipe looks AMAZING — we have never made granola cups before but we will absolutely be trying these out. THANK YOU so much for your friendship over the year and your beautiful presence on the internet! Sending hugs and love. xxoo
Emily says
Thinking of your family makes me truly happy! I feel so honored to be able to celebrate with you. Looking forward to see your little guy grow up and start cooking in the kitchen with you!
2pots2cook says
This is perfect ! Tempting photos, ingredients bursting with health, everything so carefully balanced ! Thank you so much for sharing !
Becky says
Would honey or maple syrup be a good replacement for the rice syrup? Thanks!
Emily says
Hi Becky! I think both honey or maple syrup would work, but it may not be quite as cohesive as the brown rice syrup. I’ve not tried it with this particular recipe, but have used it in other granola bar recipes with good results. It may take a few extra minutes to cool and become solid, so wait those extra minutes before trying to remove them from the pan. Hope this helps!
thalia says
i love these granola cups! they look SO delicious and the perfect little seasonal breakfast. adorable. Xx
Emily says
Thank you, Thalia! You are so sweet!