Homemade Aussie Bites (WFPB, Vegan, Nut Free, Gluten Free)

Aussie Bites, sold at Costco, are convenient little oatmeal cookie snacks that are very popular. They are lightly sweet and full of oats, quinoa, dried fruit, and sunflower, chia and flax seeds. “They seem healthy already… why make a “healthier” version?” you may ask.

The only issue with these little morsels is they have loads of oil in them (that’s what makes them good!). They have butter and canola oil, neither of which is a good way to get your fats. It took LOTS of trial runs, but I have finally created a whole-food, plant-based recipe for Aussie Bites!

I made countless revisions to this recipe, and have some options for you!  As a whole-food blogger, I try to not to use oil in my recipes, since that it is not a whole food. It is best to get fats from whole foods, like avocados, coconut, or nuts. In this recipe I use almond butter (although you can use coconut oil if you need a nut-free version).

These are not light and fluffy like muffins, or sweet like desserts, but rather little mini granola bars that are healthy enough that I eat them for breakfast or a snack. They are delicious soaked in a cup of almond milk! My 11-month-old baby has yummed up every test batch I’ve made, and they’re soft enough for her to eat even without many teeth.

These also make great lacation cookies for any nursing moms you know. Oatmeal and flax seed improve milk supply, so a bag of these would make a great gift for new moms.

Aussie Bites are so fun to make and even more fun to eat! Please let me know how they turn out for you in the comments!

5 from 2 votes

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Homemade Aussie Bites (WFPB, Vegan)

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

13 mins

Total Time

28 mins

 

These super nutritious morsels are easy to make and keep on hand for a quick snack or breakfast.

Course: Snack

Servings: 20 Aussie Bites

Author: Faithful Plateful

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup packed cooked quinoa
• 1/4 cup ground flax seed
• 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup (These are barely sweet, so increase to 1/3 cup if you want them sweeter)
• 1/2 cup hot water
• 1/4 cup nut butter OR melted coconut oil*
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup chopped dried apricot
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds or chopped pumpkin seeds
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 3/4 cup rolled oats
• 3/4 cup oat flour**

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Get out a silicone mini muffin pan (which needs no greasing), or grease a mini muffin pan with coconut oil. 

2. In a mixing bowl, combine quinoa, flax seed, honey, hot water, and nut butter or melted coconut oil. Stir well and let sit for 5 minutes for the flax seeds to absorb the liquid.

3. Add all remaining ingredients. Using a large spoon, stir until mixed well. 

4. Press mixture into mini muffin tins. It should fill roughly 20-24 muffin cups. 

5. Bake for 13 minutes, until edges are golden brown. Let cool completely before loosening with a butter knife and removing. Devour a few, and store  any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature. These freeze well. 

Recipe Notes

• *If you don't mind the taste of low-fat baking and want to make these oil-free, simply omit the coconut oil or replace with 1/4 cup nut butter or applesauce.
• ** To make oat flour, simply put 3/4 cup rolled oats into a blender and blend until fine!
• Any dried fruit or nuts would be tasty! Walnuts, craisins, dried cherries, pecans--use your favorites!

Original Aussie Bites have 130 calories each, 7 grams of fat and 8 grams of sugar.

These bites have roughly 100 calories each, 5 grams of fat and 5 grams of sugar (when using coconut oil).