Homemade Granola Bars

Sharing one of my favorite snacks...homemade granola bars.  The kids love them, they are very versatile, and best of all quick and easy.

Ingredients:

2 cups pitted dates (medjool)

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup peanut butter

2 cups almonds chopped

3 cups rolled oats

1 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions:

-line 9x13 pan with parchment paper, overlapping the sides

-process dates in a food processor until pasty or dough like

-preheat oven to 350 degrees and toast almonds and oats until warm and fragrant, 10-15 minutes

-place oats, almonds, and dates in a bowl mix until combined and crumb like

-warm honey and peanut butter in microwave until melted, mix until uniform

-pour honey mixture into oat mixture and combine

-add chocolate chips, combine

-spoon mixture into prepared pan and press down until firm (I cover with parchment to press)

-cover and refrigerate until firm and cool

-remove from pan and divide

-store in a sealed container in the refrigerator

My kids love these!  The best part is you can add just about anything.  Don't like chocolate chips don't add them.  My oldest son loves cranberries and white chocolate so I have added those ingredients before.  I do suggest on larger ingredients like cranberries and large chocolate chips that you do a quick chop before you add them so the bars don't crumble...

Enjoy!

adapted from: The Minimalist Baker

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