Finding recipes to make in your dorm room can be difficult. While the dorms have communal kitchens, you may not always want to cook alongside your neighbors.
Luckily, there are plenty of no-bake recipes that require little more than what you have in your dorm: a freezer and microwave.
I have combined a multitude of recipes in an attempt to use only what I had at my disposal.
Today, we’re making no-bake granola bars from the comfort of your dorm. For this you will need only a few ingredients, some of which are available in the Jay Pantry.
You will need rolled oats, a jar of peanut butter, honey, half of a stick of butter and chocolate of your choosing. I recommend semi-sweet chocolate chips, but I used M&Ms and a broken Hershey’s chocolate bar as that is what I had on hand.
However unnecessary, I chose to add protein powder. I wanted a quick, protein packed, grab-and-go breakfast option.
To make this, I mixed all of the above ingredients in a bowl until well combined. If it is too dry, add more honey or butter until it comes together.
Once combined, flatten it out on a piece of parchment paper, plastic wrap, aluminium foil, or whatever else you have at your disposal. It doesn’t need to look good, but needs to fit in your freezer.
For 30 minutes to one hour, allow it to set and harden in the freezer. Once removed, cut the frozen slab into bars. Store them in freezer bags or air tight plastic containers. Store them for one week on the counter or in the fridge, and for up to a month in the freezer.
The granola bars are a bit of a mess. They crumbled when I picked them up, making them difficult to eat, and not the easy breakfast I was hoping for. They suck all the moisture out of your mouth, leaving you desperate for water, which is most likely due to the peanut butter. Less peanut butter and more honey, or maybe even a splash of milk may be the way to go.
Despite its flaws, the recipe did turn out quite well. It tastes of rich peanut butter with a subtle but powerful sweetness from the honey. The occasional bite of chocolate pairs nicely with the peanut butter, a truly classic combination.
Don’t be afraid to change it up. Use whatever chocolate you prefer, or none at all. Add peanuts, almonds, rice cereal, coconut flakes or whatever else it is that suits your fancy.
I didn’t follow a recipe exactly, I changed it up to suit my preferences and resources, and you can too. Give it a try to see for yourself.
