These easy and tasty muffins are a glorious way to start any day. They combine the great taste and chewy texture of carrots with the wonderful flavors of apple, raisins, coconut, walnuts, and cinnamon.
You'll need just six ingredients, including a convenient boxed cake mix, to bake up these chewy bars chock-full of walnuts and dates. They are my husband's favorite snack, and he loves to take them to work. I often whip up a batch for bake sales or to share with my co-workers at our local car dealership.
Similar to banana bread, this moist cake is enriched with creamy buttermilk, brown sugar, butter, walnuts, and rum. Apple juice can be substituted for the rum, and pecans for the walnuts.
This frosting is good for many types of cakes including carrot cakes, apple cakes, and spice cakes. Add flavorings to compliment the cake you are frosting. Try 1 1/2 teaspoons of grated lemon or orange rind, 1 teaspoon any extract, 1 teaspoon of liqueur, or a mashed banana.
A little pastry triangle made of refrigerated biscuit dough encloses a tangy sloppy joe filling. It's a snack, it's a little meal for the kids, it's an appetizer.
These low fat bars offer a wholesome after-school snack that's satisfying but not too sweet. The added granola gives them a bit of crunch, and the cashew butter makes them extra moist.
'Both my daughters love these sweet muffins,' reports Lori Thompson of New London, Texas. 'I usually double the recipe so I have extras to keep in the freezer for a quick breakfast or snack.'
I created these chewy granola bars while searching for a healthy snack for my family. Now, wherever we go, folks request these bars--and the recipe. -Janis Loomis of Madison, Virginia
