Healthy Granola Bars without preservatives or unknown ingredients. Super delicious and great for breakfast, lunch boxes or after-school snacks!
And just like that, my oldest boy enters first grade. This is a big year for him (and, uhhm, me…sniff). Will someone please tell him to stop growing up? He is now in school all day long, which means I need to start thinking ahead about what he will be putting into his body during the day. Dan and I recently decided to do a trial period where we limit the artificial sweeteners/dyes/preservatives that go into his body. I have heard so many positive stories about kids’ behaviors being positively affected by removing that junk. We ended the summer with a bang in the behavior department, so we are willing to give it a shot.
One of the snacks my boys seem to be constantly asking for are on-the-go treats such as No Bake Granola Bars or Snack Bites. I am not opposed to spending a little bit extra to purchase snacks with the “good” ingredients, but if I can make my own and know exactly what is going in them? Even better.
These bars are tasty and packed with good ingredients. The downside? The absence of sugar and preservatives makes them a bit crumbly and you’ll need to gobble them down within a few days. Shucks.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine:
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup chopped pecans
3/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup crispy cereal (I used Koala Crisp)
1 tablespoon wheat germ
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Mix well.
Add:
3/4 cup natural peanut butter
1/2 cup almond butter
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup olive oil
Mix until combined.
Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Press down firmly and evenly, using your hands.
Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Let the bars cool completely. Holding onto the sides of the parchment paper, transfer to a cutting board. Cut into 16 equal rectangles (or 32 little squares) and store in a sealed container.
Enjoy!
Healthy Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup pecans chopped
- 3/4 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup crispy cereal
- 1 tbsp. wheat germ
- 1 tbsp. ground flaxseed
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 3/4 cup natural peanut butter
- 1/2 cup almond butter
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the oats, pecans, raisins, cereal, wheat germ, flaxseed, cinnamon and salt. Mix well.
- Add the peanut butter, almond butter, applesauce, honey and olive oil. Mix until thoroughly combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and bake for 30 minutes. Let the bars cool completely. Holding onto the sides of the parchment paper, transfer to a cutting board. Cut into 16 equal rectangles and store in a sealed container.
Nutrition
Granooooola, my favorite. I have a 2 box of granola bars, healthy and yummy. For a safe eating, I'm used to take my lemonade diet max first before refilling my tummy. lol Love love granola. 🙂
Definitely making these. Thanks for sharing!!