Thursday, July 17, 2014

Chocolate Peanut Butter “Granola” Bars (Oat and Grain Free)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars (Oat-Grain Free)

These might just look like every other granola bar you’ve seen and you might even be wondering why “granola” is in quotes in the title.  That would be because there are no oats or grain in these.  The kick of flavor from all the different nuts, coconut, and of course, chocolate is heavenly in these bars and the grain is not missed at all.

I made these right before my family reunion in June.  When getting out other desserts to share, I snuck one of these out of the fridge for me (since I’m not eating any of the other treats that were available) and my brother, Matt, asked what they were.  He was interested in them since he tries not to eat much sugar and he knew they were probably healthy since I was eating them.

Within minutes, they were almost completely gone.  Matt loved them.  He encouraged others to try them and they liked them as well.  I hurried and snuck a couple more bars to save for me for another time and let them get devoured.  Without oats and other grains, the nutty flavor is intensified and these have just the right amount of chocolate.

I got this recipe from Danielle’s blog, Against All Grain.  Love her blog and cookbook and her!

Chocolate Peanut Butter “Granola” Bars, adapted by Katrina, Baking and Boys! from Danielle at Against All Grain

1/4 cup (84 grams) raw honey

1/2 cup (148 grams) organic, natural peanut butter

2 tablespoons (28 grams) coconut oil

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup raw almonds

1/2 cup raw walnuts

1/2 cup raw pecans

1/2 cup raw cashews

7 pitted dates, roughly chopped to check for pits

1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds

1/4 cup shredded, unsweetened coconut

1/4 cup Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips

Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with nonstick foil.  Set aside.  In a small saucepan, combine the honey, peanut butter, coconut oil and salt.  Heat until all melted and combined together.  Stir in the vanilla.  In the meantime, put all of the nuts and the dates in a food processor and pulse until mixture resembles course sand.  Add the sunflower seeds and coconut and pulse a few times until they are mixed well with the other nuts.  Remove the peanut butter mixture from the stove and stir the nut mixture into it.  Once it is all combined, pour the mixture into the prepared pan.  Place a piece of parchment or waxed paper on the top and press it down evenly with your hands.  Remove the paper from the top and sprinkle the chocolate chips on top and again using the parchment/waxed paper, press them in to the top of the bars.  Put the pan in the freezer and freeze for 2 hours.  Remove bars from the pan and the foil and cut into desired sized bars on a cutting board.  Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 weeks.

Chocolate Peanut Butter "Granola" Bars

It’s official, I am making these again today.  They are full of nuts and pretty sweet, I think the bars could even be cut smaller than I did in the photos.  But at this size, they are a perfect snack or energy bar.

Chocolate Peanut Butter "Granola" Bars

6 comments:

Shelby said...

Yes! Ok, since I have to change everything here myself, when I need a sweet fix, I am going to try these. Actually, I'm going to try these soon!

Anonymous said...

Another fantastic looking recipe!

Two questions: I have everything but the sunflower seeds. Would they be ok without them? Sub another nut?

Does heating the raw honey defeat the benefits of using raw honey? I've seen this a few times & have wondered.

Thanks!

Katrina said...

I'm sure you could just leave out the sunflower seeds, or if you want to you could add some extra coconut or a little more of another nut. They should be fine just leaving them out though.
"Grocery store" honey is pretty refined. I've even heard a lot of them aren't even honey, but corn syrup in disguise. (Even though the label says honey.) Raw honey comes right from a bee farmer. So don't do anything to it, though I believe some do filter it and it's still considered raw. I buy my honey at either farmers' markets or whole food stores.
Thanks, Anonymous!

Anonymous said...

I always buy raw, organic honey & it's expensive (but worth it!) I just didn't know if heating it changes it's 'goodness'! I'll use it though, since it's what we buy :-)

Katrina said...

I'm really not sure if heating changes it, but since I got the recipe from a health foodie/Paleo site (I linked her blog.) I would think she wouldn't heat honey if it wasn't good for it. ;) Now I want to Google about heating honey though!

sj said...

These look really yummy!