after school snacks

Chocolate Cookies with Chocolate Caramel Chips

04/20/2015 By Jenn 19 Comments

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Chocolate cookies are my absolute favorite. Okay so I love anything chocolate, what woman doesn’t?

Today I have these chocolate cookies with chocolate caramel chips recipe for you guys. They just ooze with chocolate and caramel flavor. They balance each other very nicely in these cookies, neither over power the other.

delicious chocolate cookies with chocolate caramel chips

I made these over the weekend and there is not one left in my house. My kids and husband devoured them all! They were a big hit.

Be sure to pour a tall glass of milk with these delicious chocolate cookies with chocolate caramel chips and enjoy a couple for a sweet afternoon snack.

Chocolate Cookies with Chocolate Caramel Chips Recipe

Ingredients

1 C. butter, softened to room temperature
1 1/2 C. sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2/3 C. cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 C. flour
Nestle Toll House Caramel Filled Morsels

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line your baking sheets with parchment paper or foil.
Combine the dry ingredients in a medium bowl and set aside.
In a separate, larger bowl cream together the eggs, softened butter and sugar.
Slowly fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients mixing well.
Add in the Nestle Toll House Caramel Filled Morsels.
Add rounded tablespoon or cookie scoop onto your baking sheets about 2-3″ a part and bake 8-10 minutes.
Grab a glass of milk and ENJOY!

This makes approximately 2 dozen cookies.

Do you have a favorite chocolate cookie recipe?

Want more chocolate recipes?

Mini Chocolate Lava Cakes

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

Honey Bunches of Oats Breakfast Biscuits Makes Breakfast Simple #HBOatsBiscuits

03/11/2015 By Jenn 10 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Read the full disclosure.

Disclosure: I was provided the mentioned products to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed are 100% mine.

It’s what seems like the crack of dawn and still dark outside when I wake up. After I get ready aka throw on some “presentable” clothes, brush my teeth and grab my coffee, I head over to wake up the kids for school. It seems at that second its pure chaos in my house. This is all way before 7am!

Kids rushing about. I am helping them get dressed, fixing ponytails, laying out toothbrushes moms you know the drill. It seems like no matter how early we get up its always that countdown before we need to leave to get them to school.

Every morning I am super rushed that I forget to eat anything. Then lunch hits I am starving.

I know breakfast is supposed to be the most important meal of the day but a busy mom just doesnt have the time. I need a simple on the go option that I can throw in my bag and eat while I am dropping off the kids.

When I saw my favorite cereal Honey Bunches of Oats came out with the new Honey Bunches of Oats Breakfast Biscuits I knew this would be a great option for me.

Its the same cereal you love but just outside the bowl!

The Honey Bunches of Oats Breakfast Biscuits come in three delicious flavors, strawberry, chocolate and their signature honey roasted. They are all amazing but I am fond of the strawberry. In each box you will find five individual pouches containing four breakfast biscuits. They offer 100% whole grain and 5 grams of protein to provide long lasting energy. Extra energy is always needed in my house to keep up with three very active kiddos. Moms, who’s with me?

The Honey Bunches of Oats Breakfast Biscuits are not just for breakfast though, they are also the perfect after school snack for the kids. My picky eaters were all over these. Luckily they each have a favorite flavor so I can get each of them their very own box.

If you find yourself skipping breakfast the Honey Bunches of Oats Breakfast Biscuits are a perfect solution. You can check out what stores carry them on their website. You won’t be disappointed once you try them.

Oatmeal Cookie Fruit and Nut Bars

03/09/2015 By Jenn 18 Comments

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If you are a mom on the go then you will love this recipe I have for you today! These oatmeal cookie fruit and nut bars are perfect for a quick breakfast or easy afternoon snack.

If you are a mom like me breakfast can quickly be forgotten. Then I find myself starving at lunch and tend to eat more than I should at lunch, its not a good situation. The oatmeal cookie fruit and nut bars are packed with goodness. Nuts, oats, dried fruit and a small bit of chocolate helps tame that sweet tooth.

With the combination with the oats and nuts it fills me up offering a more healthy option for breakfast or late afternoon snack to keep me going to chase after the kids. They are not dry like other bars of this kind either which I love. There is nothing worse than a dry oatmeal or nut based bar to me, yuck!

With very little effort to throw them together, they are by far better than most store bought bars I have had. My picky eater even loves them! He has asked for them almost every day last week for an after school snack. It’s a win win!

Oatmeal Cookie Fruit and Nut Bars Recipe

Ingredients

½ Cup Golden Raisins
½ Cup Dried Cranberries
1 Pkg. (16 oz.) Oatmeal Raisin Cookie dough (any brand will do)
1 ½ Cups Oats
½ Cup Pecans, roughly chopped
½ Cup Coconut, shredded
½ Cup Mini Semisweet Chocolate Chips

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350˚.
In a small bowl soak the Raisins and Cranberries in 2 cups warm water for 5 minutes, drain.
In another bowl break the Oatmeal cookies apart and add the Oats, Raisins, Cranberries, Pecans, Coconut and Chocolate chips. Mix to combine.
Place the mixture into an 8×8 inch pan lined with lightly greased parchment paper with a little excess paper hanging over the edges to use as handles to remove from the pan for cutting.
Optional, place whole pecans or additional chopped pecans on top.
Bake at 350˚ until deep golden brown, 30-35 minutes.
Let cool before cutting into bars.
Store in airtight container unrefrigerated up to one week. Refrigerated up to two weeks.

More recipes:

25 Healthy After School Snacks

Butterscotch Baked French Toast

25 Healthy After School Snacks

08/25/2014 By Jenn 25 Comments

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Healthy after school snacks should be more fun other than a fruit salad, crackers or veggie sticks. I don’t know about your kids but my kids come home starving when they get home from school it seems. I want my kids to come home to a after school snack they look forward to. Something that will fill them up through working on their homework and keep them from scrounging in the kitchen until dinner is ready.

Kids are funny though, they will usually go for the cookies or sweets {really, who can blame them}. I found with my kids if you jazz up a healthier alternative even if it is fruit or a healthier sweet dessert they are sure to dig right in no questions asked.

Back to school season is here so I have compiled 25 healthy after school snacks you will feel good about feeding to your kids this school year.

25 Healthy After School Snacks

1. No Bake Almond Protein Bites
2. Peanut Butter, Banana, and Honey Muffins
3. Peanut Butter and Jelly No Bake Snack Bites
4. Extra Chunky Walnut-Coconut Granola
5. Coconut Macaroon Bars
6. Pumpkin Spice Chex Mix
7. Healthy Fruit Pizzas
8. Mesquite Zucchini Chips
9. Quinoa Raisin Cookies
10. Avocado Hummus
11. Strawberry Mint Yogurt Parfaits
12. Honey Melon Popsicles with Coconut
13. Strawberry Frozen Yogurt
14. Chocolate Mint Truffles
15. Cauliflower BBQ Wings
16. Cranberry Mixed Nuts Biscotti
17. Banana Macadamia Bread
18. Mini Zucchini Cupcakes
19. Toasted Pita Triangles
20. Healthy Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars
21. Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Green Smoothie
22. Honey Peach Froyo Bites
23. Healthy Fruit and Nut Snack Bars
24. Homemade Fruit and Vegetable Snacks
25. Frozen Yogurt Covered Blueberries

What are your favorite healthy after school snacks your kids love?