If you have a thing for granola bars but are suspicious of the ingredients — namely high fructose corn syrup — in major brands, this recipe is for you. Sometimes you just need a snack that has some serious staying power, and this recipe will provide you with a delicious snack that won’t leave your wallet screaming. You don’t even have to turn on your oven…….what more could you ask?
Servings: 12 bars
Ingredients:
- • ½ cup raisins (optional)
- • ½ cup nuts of your choice (peanuts, cashews, almonds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, etc.)
- • ⅔ cup maple syrup, honey, agave, or sweetener of your choice
- • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- • 1 cup creamy peanut, almond, cashew, sunflower, or any other kind of nut butter
- • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- • ¼ tsp salt
- • 3½ cups gluten-free oats
- • ¼ cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
Directions:
- • Line a baking dish with parchment paper.
- • In a large bowl, stir together peanut butter, honey, pure vanilla extract, cinnamon and salt. Mix until smooth.
- • Add the oats, nuts, raisins and chocolate chips and stir until fully combined.
- • Press the mixture firmly into the baking dish with your hands or a spatula. Rolling a glass across the mixture can help flatten it.
- • Cover with plastic wrap and chill for a least an hour.
- • Slice into bars and serve.
Storage:
- • Store the cut bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- • The bars can be frozen up to 2 months. Defrost for 30 minutes at room temperature before serving.
