Popcorn is one of those foods that I ‘really don’t like,’ until you find me in the movie theater going back to refill my extra-large bucket before the previews are over.
Once I start, I just can’t stop.
I found inspiration for this granola from the kettlecorn ProBar that I bought last week.
I had high hopes for this bar. I was expecting sweet, salty, and crunchy.
Instead, I got slightly dry and crumbly, with a ton of nuts and seeds. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t what I was expecting either – I had desired some light, crunchy carbs.
If I’m going to spend half of my life savings on a bar, I want it to be fabulous.
Of course, I had to make my own since I couldn’t get it out of my mind.
I can be a bit obsessive.
I air-popped some popcorn, but you can definitely use bag-popped as well. I crushed some pieces and left a few others whole. I wanted that big popcorn crunch.
I made a peanut butter glue to hold it all together.
Translation: I made a peanut butter glue and ate half of it before it ended up in the granola. The rest held it together.
It was exactly what I was looking for. A bit salty and sweet, with a light crunch.
Peanut Butter Popcorn Granola Bites
1 cup old fashioned oats
1 1/2 cups popcorn
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup chopped, dried figs
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup honey
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 350.
Combine oats, popcorn, wheat germ and figs in a bowl. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine butter, peanut butter, honey, and salt until smooth.
Pour peanut butter mixture over oat mixture and stir to moisten.
Line a baking dish with parchment paper and press granola into it. Bake for 20 minutes, rotating once.
Let cool for 2-3 hours before crumbling granola.
Can you imagine if I felt about veggies the way I feel about popcorn? I’d probably eat 3-4 peppers and a few cups or broccoli before I realized what I was doing.
Or not.
I’m Jessica and this is where I share my stuff. You will find a balance of healthy recipes, comfort food and indulgent desserts.
how in the world do you come up with this stuff? I love it! Your granola recipes are inspired :)
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Lady, you just made my morning! And if the peanut buttery glue is anything like that of special k bar glue, I can relate to your consumption of half before mixing!
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POpcorn + granola = genius! (btw I think genius is the most used word in my comments in your posts LOL)
Looks fab.
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Awesome recipe!
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YOU ARE KILLING ME!!! haha…looks amazing!
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Wow! Awesomeness! I want to live in your kitchen! Of course I would probably be 30 pounds heavier but at least I would be fat and happy haha!
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As soon as I get back, this is what I’m eating.
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I love popcorn! I do the granola popcorn too! So sweet and tasty. Love your combination!!! I made caramel last night and my husband asked me if I made it with bacon fat. Um, no, but now I guess I need to give it a go!
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Oh my god. This is brilliant!
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Niceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! This would be like the perfect car trip snack
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you need a cook book – or a cooking show! your writing is hilarious & it’s so clear that you have a personality that could really capture an audience… plus your recipes always look freakin’ amazing.
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Jessica — May 6th, 2010 @ 7:20 am
You have no idea how much that made my day. THANK YOU.
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Julie @savvyeats — May 6th, 2010 @ 9:54 am
I’d watch or read!
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Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) — May 6th, 2010 @ 3:17 pm
Me too!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously, I would not even know how to combine ingredients to make granola. What the heck is wheat germ? I keep seeing it in all your recipes and just saying it makes me a little queasy. I think you should do a post on kitchen essentials 101 for people like me who clearly, limit our baking skills to a Tollhouse tube-o-dough.
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Oh, wow. WOW. How in heck do you come up with these awesome recipes?! This one’s GENIUS – I never would have thought of it, but it works perfectly.
You seriously need to write a cookbook. Like. Now.
Wei-Wei
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Can I just say that this is freakin’ brilliant?!? This one is going to make waves all over blogworld :-)
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What a fun idea. :)
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YUMMMMM! That is all:)
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I about went crazy when I saw this recipe; it looks AMAZING! PB & honey might be one of the best combos ever :)
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I am the same way with popcorn. I always say I don’t care for it – but put it in front of me and I can demolish a bag :P I have a sneaking suspicion I could also demolish this recipe – bookmarked! You are slowly taking over my favourites tab :P
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This looks freaking amazing! I never *think* of making popcorn but when I do have it…obsessed. haha
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these sound really awesome…might actually get me to eat popcorn and really love it! ;)
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Um…peanut butter, popcorn and granola? Well they’re just about my most favorite things all mixed up in one fabulously delicious looking treat. Such a genius idea lady!
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Love the combo here! And I am the same way – we’ll go to the movies, my husband will get popcorn and I’ll just get a bottle of water because I don’t want popcorn – and then eat 3/4 of his! :D
You are so funny about not liking vegetables!!
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Yum! I’m not a fan of popcorn, but kettle corn makes me taste buds tingle :) And THAT is some good looking Kettle Corn!
I made your Four Layer Cookie Bars yesterday and let me just say I feel like if I weren’t ten pounds heavier today, I think I would be closer to heaven.
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Those look so good! Salty and sweet, mmm mmmm!
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Dear Jessica,
Thank you for combining all of my favorite foods into one amazing super food. Much appreciated
love,
Madeline
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Purely.Evil. Let’s try this with maple cin almond butter!!! mmmmm
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I’m not the first and certainly not the last to say it, but the more i read your blog lately, you really should have your own cookbook!!! someone get this girl a book deal, stat!
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You are a GENIUS!! The best recipes EVER…
I have NO idea how you think of these things, but they are always so PERFECT! Cannot wait to try this one :)
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Heyy! It was nice to meet you last night! That popcorn granola bites looks fabulous!
xo
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YUM! What a great recipe/idea!
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These look and sounds awesome! I tasty, yet somewhat healthy snack – can’t wait to try it!
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Dude, I feel about your blog the way you feel about popcorn. I have a temper tantrum if I can’t read it at work while eating lunch at my desk. Then I get mad at myself for having read through all the archives — it means I either have to read slowly or eat quickly to make the blog last through my meal.
Can’t wait for your cookbook. Once that becomes a reality, I can start eating lunch out of the office while maintaining my deadly addiction to your writing.
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Jessica — May 6th, 2010 @ 10:57 am
I seriously love you.
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I love that you thought to cross popcorn & granola. Ingenius!
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Oh wow! Those look pretty awesome. Never though to put popcorn in bars
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That looks delicious! What kind of camera do you have? It takes fantastic pictures :)
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Jessica — May 6th, 2010 @ 12:42 pm
Thank you!
I have a Canon point and shoot that is about 4 years old. I’ll have to double check the make, but I’m pretty sure it’s not available anymore.
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Jessica — May 6th, 2010 @ 6:32 pm
Thank you!
I have a Canon S100 – it is just a point and shoot, and about 4 years old!
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I feel the exact same way about popcorn so I probably shouldn’t even try making this- I can NOT stop eating until my tummy is beyond full. I also scraped out the inside of a peanut butter jar the other night, so this would be a seriously deadly combination.
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Girrrrrrrrllllllllllll….this is sooooo up my alley! I’m making these!
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OMG – I’ve been away from the blogging world for a week and come back to find this recipe! How I love you!!!! P.S. I tried to find dried figs at a store a few weeks back and was given lip by the 16-year-old produce attentent with an attitude, who told me they’re seasonal. Where did you find them??
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Jessica — May 6th, 2010 @ 12:57 pm
Same thing used to happen to me, up until about a year ago. Now my local grocery store has them mostly all year round, which is scary since they are probably just OLD! But sometimes I find them at TJ’s, too??
I believe their season is late summer-fall, but I am not positive.
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How creative!! This stuff would be dangerous for me to make, I know I would have no control around it!! Looks awesome!! :)
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I need to come up with a bigger vocabulary so that my comments aren’t just “wow” and “amazing”. Until then… wow! amazing!
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I LOVE popcorn these could get me in some big trouble. yum, yum!
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Sweet Jesus, I NEED that! I might need to stop visiting this site until I make up my backlog of recipes :D
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cooking show NOW! i want those…of course I could make them But I know they wont come out like yours ;)
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This looks SO good. Would it be totally sinful to throw in some chocolate chips? And still eat it for breakfast? Yum!
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How do you come up with such amazing creations!!!? I am baffled. Wow.
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I bet these bars are great!! I much prefer the home made version to the Pro Bars any day. How many bars did you get outta this??
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Jessica — May 6th, 2010 @ 6:31 pm
I didn’t make bars, I just ended up crumbling it! So, I’m not sure – sorry!
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I CANNOT wait to try these out!! MMM…they sound amazing!
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Can I live with you!?!
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Those look so good!! Love it! I’ll definitely have to make those for the next get-together that my friends and I have!
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I’m the same way with popcorn. I never crave it and think I don’t like it until I dominate the bowl when my hubby makes it, lol.
Those bites look amazing! Popcorn is a great low-cal filler for snack bars. YUM
Jenn
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