Ingredients:
Dry:
- 2 cups of organic quick oats
- 1 cup of a crisp rice cereal (my preference is to go with an organic chocolate one)
- 1/2 cup ground organic flax
- Optional items-Here is where you can get creative. You can forget the flax, add dried fruit, nuts, etc. But, be careful not to add too much, or you will not have enough melted mixture to hold the final product together.
Base:
- 1/2 cup of local honey
- 3/4 cup of creamy organic peanut butter
- 1/4 cup of organic brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp. of Vanilla Extract (Val makes her own)
Final Touch:
- Mini chocolate chips (amount is optional)
Directions:
Combine together all of the dry ingredients in a bowl.
Warm the base ingredients on a low heat(except for the vanilla) in a pan, stirring consistently until fully melted and well combined. This can take from 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat, and add the vanilla, stirring until thoroughly mixed.
Pour the melted mixture over the dry ingredients and stir until every dry ingredient is fully coated with your yummy base. With a rubber spatula, press the coated mixture into a jelly pan. Using wax paper, press firmly down on the mix so that it compacts all the ingredients tightly. If adding chocolate chips, this is where they enter the picture. Sprinkle the mini chips on the top and press them into the already pressed granola mix with wax paper. This will need to sit for hours, perhaps overnight, until they are ready to be cut up and placed in snack bags. Homemade granola bars tend to be more “flexible” than the store bought alternatives, but the taste and the peace of mind that comes from making your own food, outweighs the inconvenience of the crumble that may occur. Also, they can be served or stored frozen if that is what you and your family prefers. Enjoy!