Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars

My kids go nuts for those Chewy granola bars that you can buy in the store. Every single time we walk by them, they beg and plead to buy them. I knew they must be SO simple to make at home and that's when a good friend of mine showed me this recipe! I've tweaked it a little to our liking but its so versatile that you could do so many variations of it!

Here is what you will need...

2 1/2 cups rolled oats (I've used both quick oats and old fashioned)

1/2 cup chunky peanut butter (you can use smooth peanut butter too OR almond butter!)

1/3 plus 1Tbsp cup local honey

1/8 cup butter
2  tbsp. coconut oil (I use Spectrum Organic Virgin Coconut Oil)

1/2 cup shredded unsweetened organic coconut

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

--In a medium bowl put the oats, shredded coconut, and dark chocolate chips. Set aside.

--Melt the peanut butter, honey, butter, and coconut oil in sauce pan on medium low heat. Keep stirring it so it will not burn! 

--Once the peanut butter mixture is well combined, pour it into the bowl with the oats. Stir immediately until the chocolate chips are melted and it is blended well. The warmth of the peanut butter mixture will melt the chocolate chips!

--Line an 8x8 casserole dish with plastic wrap and dump the oats mixture in. Smooth it out and place in the refrigerator for an hour so it can harden. 

-- After an hour, take out the dish and lift out the mixture by pulling up the ends of the plastic wrap. Place on a plate and cut into 16 squares. Keep in the refrigerator in a air tight container!     

Variations:

Add 2 tbsp. of wheat germ, ground flax OR chia seeds. You would add it into the oats mixture before pouring in the hot peanut butter sauce!