Who here hasn’t snagged those addictive Aussie bites from Costco, right? They’re like the ultimate win-win: delicious enough to please the pickiest eaters and packed with nutritious ingredients that make moms feel like superheroes. Well, guess what? You can whip up your very own batch of these tasty treats right at home. Perfect for those crazy mornings, a sweet little surprise in lunchboxes, or just the right pick-me-up with your afternoon tea or coffee. The best part? Theyโre super simple to make, no chefโs hat required. So, letโs dive into making these delightful bites that are about to give your usual Costco run a run for its money.
If you love munching on healthy snacks – that don’t necessarily taste healthy – you’ve got to make our muffins and homemade granola!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy and ready in just about 30 minutes.
- Packed with whole grains, seeds, and dried fruits for a nutrient boost.
- Perfect for breakfast, snacks, or a wholesome dessert option.
- Freezer-friendly so you can make a big batch and freeze for later use.
Aussie Bites Recipe
Aussie Bites have a chewy and slightly crispy texture, thanks to the combination of oats, quinoa, and dried fruits. They are slightly sweet from the combination of honey, coconut, and apricots. The bites are satisfying and filling, making them a great on-the-go snack option for both adults and children and a great breakfast.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Rolled Oats: Provide a hearty base and fiber. Quick oats can be used in a pinch, though the texture will differ slightly. Use certified gluten-free oats if needed.
- Dried Apricots and Raisins: Offer natural sweetness and chewiness. Feel free to substitute with any dried fruit like cranberries or dates, but don’t simply omit.
- Seeds and Nuts: Flaxseed, sunflower seeds, and chia seeds add crunch and nutritional value. Swap out or add any seeds or nuts you prefer.
- Canola Oil: Chosen for its mild flavor and versatility in the original store-bought Aussie bites. For substitutions, melted coconut oil, melted butter, vegetable oil, or avocado oil can be used
- Quinoa: Adds a unique texture and protein. Both cooked and uncooked quinoa work, with cooked quinoa giving a softer texture.
- Honey and Vanilla Extract: Sweeten the bites naturally and add flavor depth. Maple syrup can be used as a plant-based alternative to honey.
Can I make Aussie Bites Without a Food Processor?
If you don’t have a food processor, you can mix the dry ingredients by hand and finely chop the dried fruits and nuts. The texture will be chunkier but just as delicious.
Muffin Pan Options
Mini Muffin Pans:
- Ideal Size: Perfect for authentic, bite-sized treats.
- Fill Level: Fill cups nearly to the top, as they donโt rise much.
- Baking Time: Typically 10-12 minutes, until golden brown.
Standard Muffin Pans:
- Larger Treats: Results in bigger Aussie bites, great for a snack or breakfast.
- Fill Level: Fill each cup about halfway to ensure even baking.
- Baking Time: Around 12-15 minutes, may need a bit longer due to size. Use golden brown color and clean toothpick test as doneness indicators.
General Tips:
- Non-stick Pans: Grease well if pans arenโt non-stick to prevent sticking.
- Cooling: Let bites cool in the pan before moving to a wire rack to help them set.
- Freezing: Both sizes freeze well. Freeze individually on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer-safe container.
Troubleshooting
- If your bites are too crumbly, add a bit more melted butter or honey to the mixture.
- For bites that are too moist, add a small amount of additional oat flour or rolled oats.
Tips From the Chef
- Pulse the ingredients in the food processor until just combined to keep some texture.
- Allow the bites to cool completely in the pan to set properly before removing.
When are Aussie Bites Ready?
- Color: Look for a golden brown hue on the edges and top.
- Texture: The outside should be slightly crisp, while the inside remains soft.
- Firmness: They should hold together well but still have a slight give when pressed.
Storage Instructions
Store Aussie bites in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze them on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer bag or container; they can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or gently warm in the microwave for a few seconds before enjoying.
More Healthy Snack Recipes
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Best Bran Muffins Ever
30 mins
Authentic Guacamole
15 mins
Watch the video below where Rachel will walk you through every step of this recipe. Sometimes it helps to have a visual, and weโve always got you covered with our cooking show. You can find the complete collection of recipes on YouTube, Facebook Watch, or our Facebook Page, or right here on our website with their corresponding recipes.
When I made these, they were good, but something just wasn’t quite right to me…..I changed the sugar to BROWN sugar, cookes for 11 minutes and now they are just perfect….family LOVE them
These are great, this is my second time making them! I split the difference and half-cooked the quinoa this time; fully uncooked was too crunchy for my tastes. I also increased the oat flour to ~ 1 1/3 cup to make them a little cakier, decreased the oil to 1/8 cup, and gelled my chia seeds with some water. If I had sea salt, I would have added that to get the experience of biting into little salt crystals. I also baked these in a 9″ x 9″ pan for ~30 min, since I didn’t have mini cupcake holders
The original recipe is great, I imagine plenty of substitutions could make nice variants. I used walnuts, hemp hearts, and hazelnuts this time instead of sunflower seeds and flaxseeds, still delicious.
Just a note: 1/3 of a cup is less than 3/4 of a cup. If you used 1 1/3, you used decreased the amount of oat that’s called for in the recipe.
Yeah, what am I thinking?? Well, who knows what I used now. Good news is I’m making them again
Would it make much difference if I used salted butter instead of unsalted?
You can use either in this recipe.
I used salted butter and they are just fine
I have made this recipe countless times after searching for a copycat recipe of Costcoโs Aussie bites. They make great gifts for new parents who are up at all hours of the day/night. I keep the quinoa uncooked because I feel like thatโs how the Costco version is…. aaaand Iโm too lazy to try the other way since this way tastes so good. Thanks for a great recipe
THe best recipe you can get, they are DELICIOUS.
Copy cat recipe a success! I made these today, seriously folks, so good!
With a few adjustments:
Replaced 1/4 C sugar for 1/4 C unsweetened applesauce
Then I used said applesauce to soak the raw quinoa for a couple hours to soften those up but not go to the trouble of cooking a batch *next time I think I’ll try cooking it
Replaced the butter and canola oil for 1/4 C melted coconut oil + 1 mashed banana
I didn’t have sunflower seeds, so I used crushed walnuts instead
It took them about 10 minutes longer to cook all the way thru, the batter was pretty dense without as much oil.
The coconut oil and banana give them a little different flavor than the Costco ones, but I will definitely enjoy playing around with this recipe!
Thank you for posting this recipe! ?
Really good! I have made them with cooked and with raw quinoa and I like it better cooked. Iโve used hemp hearts in place of the sunflower seeds and that was good too. I think they would be ok with less sugar-going to try that next time.
These lil bites pack a big punch. I enjoyed them at a bed and breakfast in Vermont. I learned of their availability at Costco but the closest one is more than an hour from my home. I googled them and looked for a copycat recipe. I canโt Thank you enough. Absolutely you nailed it. ?
Thank you for sharing this recipe! We’ve made this several times already, and are starting to put our own twist on things (cashew flour? Sure! Extra quinoa? Why not! Cinnamon? Yes please! We’ve added in some mashed banana in place of a little bit of the oil – that worked very well and added a great banana flavor.
I’ve taken to food-processing all the dry ingredients and freezing it, and then just adding the quinoa, honey, butter, oil and vanilla at the end. This makes it really fast to prepare a new batch!
Thank you, these turned out wonderfully. I omitted the sugar and they were still very sweet, more so than the original aussie bites. I did a side by side comparison and I honestly enjoyed this version more! My only change was to use hemp seeds rather than chia seeds because that’s what I already had.
I do recommend squishing it down tightly in the muffin tin, I squished again after they came out of the oven and they stayed together and came out of the pan easily.
I look forward to trying variations with different dried fruits, nuts and seed combinations.