Hot Snacks: Julie Anne's All Natural Granola addictive, versatile and low fat

By April MacIntyre Dec 4, 2010, 5:50 GMT

The niche granola company was created by Julie Hession, owner and founder of Julie Anne\'s. She created her own "perfect granola" with the best all-natural ingredients. Hession gets her flavor inspiration from Creamsicles, maple-blueberry pancakes, and childhood comfort foods like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Monsters and Critics' Christmas 2010: The coolest, hottest most unique gift ideas and best new products  for everyone this Christmas and Holiday season. From clothing to jewelry, spirits to skincare and everything in between, here is one of the tried and true finds for the Monsters and Critics Best of Holiday Gift Guide for you to check out:

When you cannot stop eating something until it's physically wrenched out of your hands, that's a good indication you have a winner.

Meet another great American company, Julie Anne's All Natural Granola, founded in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2008.  (I love all the email tips sent in on cool small businesses, please keep them coming!)

The niche granola company was created by Julie Hession, owner and founder of Julie Anne's. She created her own "perfect granola" with the best all-natural ingredients. Hession gets her flavor inspiration from Creamsicles, maple-blueberry pancakes, and childhood comfort foods like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

The perfect combination of crunchy clusters and tart dried fruit makes her granola ideal for sprinkling over yogurt, mixing into banana bread batter, or for snacking right out of the bag. 

I am one hand typing right now as I'm eating up her Sweet Citrus Granola, a low-fat citrus infused blend of oats, cranberries, raisins, almonds, coconut, honey, orange zest and other craziness that is pure crack.

Granola Goddess Julie Hesson's CV is no ticker tape of Grateful Dead concert ticket stubs. The comely lass graduated from Duke's MBA program, and soon after launched Julie Anne's, a gourmet specialty foods store, where her signature Sweet Citrus Granola earned a place on the shelves of Las Vegas Whole Foods Markets. Her Maple Blueberry, Tropical Bliss, and Berry Yummy PB&J flavors followed, all of which are astoundingly good.

Julie's creations have been featured in People, O.K.!, and Food Network Magazine. In addition to making granola, she enjoys competitive cooking as a hobby.

In 2008, she competed on an episode of Food Network's Ultimate Recipe Showdown, where her Double Chocolate Malt Shop Cupcakes took home the $25,000 grand prize. She was also the first runner-up in the 2009 Sutter Home Build a Better Burger cook-off. Julie's writing and recipes have been featured in Everyday with Rachael Ray, Nevada, Via, Hannaford Fresh, Taste of Home, and Relish magazines. She also publishes a food and recipe blog, Peanut Butter and Julie.

Each bag is hand dated to ensure freshness. Made in the USA and a total find for foodies and people who love great tasting healthy snacks.

Flavors include: Sweet Citrus, Tropical Bliss, Maple Blueberry, and Berry Yummy PB&J.
Julie Anne’s All Natural Granola can be found at specialty retailers such as The Fresh Market, DiBruno Brothers, and Straub’s Fine Grocers and can also be purchased online at www.julieannes.com

April MacIntyre is Monsters and Critics' smallscreen and people/celebrity editor who loves to visit and celebrate small American businesses when she can. You can contact her on Twitter