These muffins were brought as a treat for volunteers who were working the Louisiana Marathon. But, we were all too busy to snack and ended up with two bags of muffins that were headed to the trash. Loud Gasp! Which is what I did when I heard someone say “If no one wants them, I’m just going to throw them away.” I said, “NO! Don’t throw them away, I’ll take them.” I reminded everyone within hearing that 40% OF ALL PREPARED FOOD GOES TO WASTE IN AMERICA. O.K., call me a crusader! The muffins had had a rough start: the baker said they were a little burnt and they were getting worse for the wear of being tossed around in bags. I thought at first I would use the banana nut and blueberry muffins for bread pudding or in banana pudding. Then I thought by the time I got home I would have nothing but crumbs. That thought of muffin crumbs put my mind in motion and gave way to these two recipes. (Unfrosted cake crumbs will work, too.)
Leftover Muffin Oatmeal Bars: 
The idea for these came out of my hubby’s love for oatmeal, cane syrup, and those fruit and nut cookies from coffee shops and my love for him. This one is for him. I used the blueberry muffins, dried cranberries, and walnuts. These bars are wonderful for breakfast and are tasty dipped in yogurt, too.
Ingredients
- 2 cups leftover muffin crumbs
- 1 pkg Instant Oatmeal, any flavor
- 1/4 cup dried fruit
- 1/2 cup nuts, toasted
- 1/2 tsp (or more to taste) brown sugar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp cane syrup (can substitute pure maple syrup)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350
- Line a 7 x 11 pan* with parchment paper. Spray with non-stick spray. Set aside.
- Put leftover muffin crumbs into food processor. Process until fine. Remove and put into a bowl. In the food processor, add oatmeal, dried fruit and toasted nuts. Pulse until coarsely chopped. Combine fruit, nuts, oatmeal with muffin mixture. To the mixture, add brown sugar, honey, vanilla, and cane syrup. Using a rubber spatula, mix well until mixture stays together and forms a ball.
- Put mixture into prepared pan. Use spatula to press mixture down evenly filling the pan.
- Bake for 15 minutes.
- Let cool.
- Cut in half lengthwise and then vertically forming bars.
- Makes 1 dozen
- *A bigger pan can be used for thinner bars or a smaller one for thicker, chewier bars.
Leftover Muffin Rum Balls: I guess you could say this recipe is for me. I love rum cake and rum balls are just the right size to enjoy without guilt!
Easy as 1-2-3
1-In a bowl, add 2 cups of leftover muffin crumbs (just use your hands to crumble muffins, I used banana nut muffins) and 2 Tablespoons dark rum. Mix well. Let sit for 10 minutes.
2-Using a tablespoon, scoop mixture into hands and roll into balls. If mixture is too crumbly, add a little more rum!
3-Roll balls in toasted minced nuts. (I used pecans) 
Put in covered container. Store at room temperature.
That’s it! The best thing about these rum balls is that they get better with time. Try one now and one after 24 hours!
Put your TO COOK IS TO CREATE thinking cap on: For the oatmeal bars, think about all the different flavors of instant oatmeal and how it could change the flavor. What other dried fruit could be added? Dates, raisins? What other nuts? macadamia, pecans, cashews? What about different muffin flavors? For the rum balls, like chocolate? Dip balls in melted chocolate or cocoa powder, or just add some cocoa powder into the mixture. Coconut is also good added into the mixture. Think about your favorite rum cake flavor. Add that flavor or extracts to the mixture as well. Want it sweeter? Roll rum balls in powdered sugar.
FOOD FUN: There are so many volunteer opportunities in every community. Get involved. If you can’t volunteer for the whole event, how about making a batch of cookies, muffins, or treats and deliver them to those volunteers working? It would not only make their day but is sure to put a smile on your face, too. Just remember, don’t let your tasty treats be thrown away.
Wow! Yummy treats. Love both the ideas. Rum balls have always been a favorite of mine and this is a quick and easy way to make them. I would have never imagined crumbled muffins morphing into muffin oatmeal bars. Delicious! Grab a cup of coffee some rum balls and a muffin oatmeal bar and your morning is bliss! 🙂