Here it is! The first installment of this week’s recipe blitz. Enjoy!
We eat a lot of peanut butter in this house. Just sayin’. I would also eat a lot of granola bars if they weren’t so expensive (especially for the gluten free variety) and so sweet. So when we took a recent picnic excursion out of the city, I decided to try to to make my own healthier version. Packed with protein, fiber and addictively yummy.
I may tweak this recipe a little more in the future, because they tend to get a little crumbly if they aren’t refrigerated, but it doesn’t matter too much since crumbs from these babies are just as good.
(side note: if you aren’t gluten free, you can obviously just substitute regular oats.)
Gluten Free Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Heat oven to 350
Prepare 9 X 13 inch pan with with parchment paper
In a large bowl mix together:
2 Cups GF oats
1/4 C Almond meal flour (ground almonds)
1/2 C crushed nuts of choice
1/2 C golden raisins
In a large sauce pan combine and heat over medium heat (do not let it scorch!):
2/3 C peanut butter
1/3 C honey
2 tsp (GF) vanilla extract
When it is bubbling and smooth, add the oat/nut mix and stir until everything is evenly coated. Then spread into prepared pan. Don’t worry if it doesn’t spread to edges of the pan. I like my granola bars a little thicker.
Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes.
Let cool and then cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours (I usually chill overnight)
When they are thoroughly chilled, lift the whole thing out of the pan, parchment paper and all and set on a cutting board. Cut into bars and serve. I usually just put the bars into an air-tight container and store in the refrigerator.
Does anyone else have some great granola bar recipes? I’d love to try more.
The New Rustic Life 