Review of Cloud 9's Gluten-Free Super Seed Granola Bar Mix
Update: March 13, 2022
I haven't been able to find this mix for awhile. Then one of you posted on this blog that you were looking for it too! So, I contacted the company and they have discontinued this mix. I'm so sad as I really did enjoy it.
I do have my own recipe which is not exactly the same, but quite tasty. It is very easy and makes a small 8" by 8" tray of slightly sweet and crunchy gluten-free granola bars. If you are interested in giving it a go here is the link to the recipe I use.
Back in January of 2020, I saw this mix (Cloud 9 gluten-free super seed granola bar mix) at Save-on-Foods and thought this is something I want to try. Then I put it in my pantry and forgot about it. Well the other day I found it and decided to give it a go. I wasn't disappointed. Very easy to make and tasty. I love that this product has the Canadian Celiac Association gluten-free mark! I don't know about my fellow Canadian celiacs, but I'm constantly scanning shelves for this mark. Now it should be noted that this product contains gluten-free rolled oats and not all celiac's can handle gluten-free oats. Oh and for the newbies out there, never eat just regular oats, must be certified gluten-free as the cross-contamination issue is high. If you are newly diagnosed then most advice is to avoid gluten-free oats and gluten-free oat products for about a year. This is to let your gut heal. I wasn't able to consume gluten-free oats for a couple of years after I was first diagnosed and even now I need to watch how much I eat. Always check with your doctor for advise. Now on to the review.
I have provided the recipe on the back of the Cloud 9 gluten-free Super Seed Granola Bar Mix packet below. Now in the present age of only doing essential shopping trips, I did make a few adjustments (I've put them in astriks *). I did not have enough honey so I also used golden syrup. I had no coconut oil therefore I went the butter route, and my optional ingredient was dried cranberries. I love the tartness and chewiness that they add. I used Ocean Spray's Craisins, they have 'gluten-free' on the package. I think I bought them at Costco. This was super easy to make. In the future I would use my jelly roll pan (cookie sheet with sides). I made them in the 9" x 13" pan, but found them a bit thick for my liking. I like my granola bars thin. The bars are really tasty. They are not over sweet and have a nice crunch. None of the ingredients is overwhelming the others. Has a nice nutty flavour. They are packed with fiber which is something I'm always looking for in my diet. A big plus is that Cloud 9 is a Canadian company based in Burnaby BC.
Gluten-Free Cloud 9 Super Seed Granola Bar Mix (Below is the recipe on the back of the package. My adjustments are in **)
Ingredients
- 1 packet Cloud 9 gluten-free Super Seed Granola Bar Mix (435 gram size)
- 2/3 cup coconut oil (or butter) *I used butter*
- 2/3 cup honey *I used 1/3 cup honey and 1/3 cup golden syrup*
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (lightly packed)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Optional: 1/2 cup dried fruit, nuts, or chocolate chips *I used 1/2 cup of dried cranberries*
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 F
- Grease a 9" x 13" pan
- Melt butter or soften coconut oil.
- In a large bowl add the mix and rest of ingredients and mix until combined. Then add your optional ingredient(s) and mix well.
- Put into the baking pan and press down firmly.
- Bake for 25-28 minutes. Allow to cool before removing and cutting in bar shapes.
Have you tried this mix before? What did you think? I know that you can make your own, but I love having easy mixes in my pantry for days when I just want to whip something up quickly. They freeze well too! I just cut them up and individually wrap and store in a freezer ziplock bag. For more information on this and other gluten-free Cloud 9's products here is a link to their website.
Note: These are my personal experiences and opinions. Always seek out a medical opinion for medical concerns.
