Mainstream Snacks-- Homemade!

I remember when I was a kid that there were a few snacks that I always loved as a special treat. For example, my parents rarely bought peanut butter and cheese sandwich crackers, but whenever I was at a party or event where this snack was present, I would always enjoy some. This Instructable will help you to enjoy these snacks, which are less processed than the originals, as often as you want because you can make them at home!

Included are recipes for homemade toaster pastries (similar to Pop Tarts), with two flavors, Chewy granola bars (similar to Quaker Chewy Granola Bars), and peanut butter and cheese sandwich crackers (similar to Lance Toast Cheesy Peanut Butter Crackers).

For the peanut butter cheese crackers, you will need:

1/2 Cup All Purpose Flour

2 tbsp salted butter

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp chipotle chili powder

2 tbsp powdered cheddar cheese (I got mine from my local spice store)

1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Optional 1/2 teaspoon turmeric

Ice water, as needed

Peanut butter

Extra flour for dusting

For the toaster pastries, you will need:

Dough:

6 tbsp All Purpose flour

2 tbsp salted butter

1 tbsp brown sugar

2 tbsp honey

1/4 tsp baking powder

Filling:

2.5 tbsp brown sugar

Small handful of semisweet chocolate chips

Extra flour for dusting

For the granola bars, you will need:

Dry:

1/4 cup crispy rice cereal

1/4 cup chopped peanuts

3/4 cup rolled oats

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

Wet:

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

3 tbsp honey

1 tbsp canola oil

Topping:

1 tbsp peanut butter

1 tbsp honey

Materials/Supplies:

A rolling pin

A fork and toothpick (optional)

Mixing bowls and spoons

One 4x8 inch loaf pan

One 8x8 inch baking pan

One 9x13 inch baking pan

Parchment Paper

A blender

For the crackers, you will need:

1/2 Cup All Purpose Flour

2 tbsp salted butter

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp chipotle chili powder

2 tbsp powdered cheddar cheese (I got mine from my local spice store)

1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Optional 1/2 teaspoon turmeric

Ice water, as needed

1. Place all of the ingredients in a blender except for the butter and the water (include turmeric if you are using it. All it adds is color). Blend until the mixture is fairly homogeneous.

2. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture looks almost rice-like.

3. Add the water by the tablespoon until a dough forms (that is not too sticky).

4. Flour a clean surface, and roll the ball of dough out with your rolling pin until it is even and has a thickness of about 1/8 of an inch.

5. Cut the rolled dough into squares (mine were about 1.5 inches by 1.5 inches).

6. Optional: ornament the squares by poking a hole in the center of the squares and using your fork to add indentations to the outsides of the squares.

7. Bake in a oven preheated at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 11 to 12 minutes or until the edges of the crackers are golden.

1. Spread about a teaspoon of creamy peanut butter onto the non-ornamented side of a cracker. Top with another cracker.

2. Enjoy these little sandwiches, which are fresher than the originals, and are fun to make!

For the dough, you will need:

6 tbsp All Purpose flour

2 tbsp salted butter

1 tbsp brown sugar

2 tbsp honey

1/4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp each cinnamon and cocoa powder

1. Mix together all of the above ingredients except the cinnamon and cocoa powder.

2. Divide the dough into two equal portions.

3. To one of the portions, add the teaspoon of cinnamon and mix together until the mixture is homogeneous. Do the same with the other portion and the cocoa powder.

4. Roll out the dough with a rolling pin on a floured surface until it is about 1/4 of an inch thick. cut off uneven edges to make the dough into a rectangle and cut each rectangle into two smaller rectangles.

For the filling you will need:

2.5 tbsp brown sugar

Small handful of semisweet chocolate chips

Extra flour for dusting

1. Place one cinnamon dough rectangle on a greased baking sheet.

2. Top with 1 tbsp brown sugar (leaving space around the edges of the dough), and place the other dough rectangle on top. Crimp the edges of the dough with a fork, pressing firmly.

3. Place one chocolate dough rectangle on a greased baking sheet.

4. Top with 1/2 tbsp brown sugar and a small handful of semisweet chocolate chips (leaving space around the edges of the dough), and place the other dough rectangle on top. Crimp the edges of the dough with a fork (like before).

5. Bake in an oven preheated at 400 degrees for 8 minutes, or until the edges of the pastries are lightly browned.

6. Enjoy the pastries that taste better than Pop Tarts! You can always reheat them in the toaster if you would like.

For the bars, you will need:

Dry:

1/4 cup crispy rice cereal

1/4 cup chopped peanuts

3/4 cup rolled oats

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

Wet:

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

3 tbsp honey

1 tbsp canola oil

1. Mix together the dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl.

2. In a microwave safe bowl, mix together the wet ingredients until the mixture is glossy and one color throughout. If this is difficult, heat the mixture in the microwave in 15 second intervals until the mixture is less viscous and easier to stir.

3. Add the wet mixture to the dry, and stir together until all of the dry mixture is covered in the peanut butter-honey mixture.

4. Pour the mixture into an 8"x4" greased loaf pan, and press down. You may need to wet or grease your hands in order to prevent the mixture from sticking to them.

For the topping, you will need:

1 tbsp creamy peanut butter

1 tbsp honey

1. Measure out 1 tbsp creamy peanut butter and 1 tbsp honey and add them to a microwave-safe bowl.

2. Microwave the ingredients for around 20 seconds, or until the honey is not viscous.

3. Stir together the ingredients, and use a spoon to drizzle them onto the granola base.

4. Bake the bars in an oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for `12-13 minutes, or until the edges of the pan are golden.

5. Let cool on a baking tray for 10-15 minutes before cutting into bars.

6. Enjoy!

Enjoy these easy, minimally-processed, delicious versions of your favorite snacks!