Chocolate Peanut Butter
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Hello, I’m Keely! I'm a Canadian Registered Dietitian, an avid food and recipe writer, travel bug and nutrition expert. For more information about me, check out my bio here.
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Nuts and seeds are a tasty way to add more heart healthy nutrients such as unsaturated fat, fibre, and iron to your diet.
Eating more nuts and seeds has many health benefits and may protect against certain forms of cancer, improve your bowel health and reduce your risk of heart disease.
As a mom, I am always looking for recipes that are healthy AND kid friendly. Over the years I have tried a lot of recipes in the pursuit of "healthy eating" and many have been a complete flop here at home. Low fat muffins that taste like sawdust, sugar free cookies the consistency of mush, high fibre energy balls that were, well... just bad! Yes people, I have tried them all and my kids aren't buying any of it!
Kids can be the toughest food critics so if a recipe gets their stamp of approval, it had better be damn delicious! I am happy to say, these chocolate peanut butter granola bars passed the test with flying colours!
Sweet, salty, crunchy, and delicious!
This recipes is loaded with nutrient dense ingredients. Thanks to the dates these bars are naturally sweet and rich in fibre and iron. I added 70% dark chocolate to my recipe because, well... we love dark chocolate in my home. If you don't like dark chocolate I'd recommend adding dried fruit like raisins or cranberries instead (just read the ingredient list carefully and choose dried fruit with no added sugar).
These granola bars are everything I hoped for. They are sweet and salty, crunchy and coated in peanut buttery deliciousness.
ANY TIPS FOR MAKING CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER GRANOLA BARS?
My biggest tip for this recipe is to put the pan of granola mixture into the freezer for about a half an hour before cutting it into bars. The mixture needs time to firm up, otherwise the bars just crumble apart. I would also recommend storing the bars in an air tight container in the fridge.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars
(high protein, vegetarian, gluten free, whole grain)
These no bake chocolate peanut butter granola bars are naturally sweetened, high protein, gluten free and made with whole grains. The perfect make ahead breakfast or snack that you can just grab and go. These bars are full of nutrious goodness and kid approved!
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Recipe Makes: 12 servings Prep Time: 45 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 1 hour |
Nutrition Information per 1 serving Recipe makes 12 servings. 
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INGREDIENTS
2 cups quick rolled oats (gluten free)
1/2 cup unsalted raw almonds, roughly chopped
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 Tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup maple syrup
3/4 cup (packed) dried dates, pitted and finely chopped
50 g dark chocolate 70%, chopped into bits
2 cups quick rolled oats (gluten free)
1/2 cup unsalted raw almonds, roughly chopped
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 Tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup maple syrup
3/4 cup (packed) dried dates, pitted and finely chopped
50 g dark chocolate 70%, chopped into bits
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F (180 C with fan).
2. On a large baking sheet toss together oats, almonds, pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake for about 10-15 minutes or until everything becomes lightly golden. Remove from oven and add the coconut, then bake for another 5-6 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
3. While the oats, nuts and seeds are toasting in the oven, pit and finely chop the dates. This can be a bit of a sticky job, but that's a good thing as the dates will be the glue that hold the granola bars together. If your dates are not sticky try soaking them in a bit of warm water for a few minutes and then drain well to remove the water.
4. In a small sauce pan combine peanut butter, butter, and maple syrup. Warm over medium heat and whisk to combine. When ingredients are liquid and well mixed, add the vanilla. Stir to combine, then take it off the heat and set aside.
5. In a medium size bowl combine toasted oats, nuts and seeds, with salt, chocolate and chopped dates. This part can be a bit tricky to do with a spoon so I got right in there with my hands to mix everything together. A great stress reliever!
6. Pour the peanut butter mixture over everything and then stir well to ensure ingredients are well coated.
7. Line a 9 x11 baking dish with parchment paper. Transfer the granola mixture into the pan and press it down with a spoon. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes, then remove and cut into bars.
Enjoy!
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F (180 C with fan).
2. On a large baking sheet toss together oats, almonds, pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake for about 10-15 minutes or until everything becomes lightly golden. Remove from oven and add the coconut, then bake for another 5-6 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
3. While the oats, nuts and seeds are toasting in the oven, pit and finely chop the dates. This can be a bit of a sticky job, but that's a good thing as the dates will be the glue that hold the granola bars together. If your dates are not sticky try soaking them in a bit of warm water for a few minutes and then drain well to remove the water.
4. In a small sauce pan combine peanut butter, butter, and maple syrup. Warm over medium heat and whisk to combine. When ingredients are liquid and well mixed, add the vanilla. Stir to combine, then take it off the heat and set aside.
5. In a medium size bowl combine toasted oats, nuts and seeds, with salt, chocolate and chopped dates. This part can be a bit tricky to do with a spoon so I got right in there with my hands to mix everything together. A great stress reliever!
6. Pour the peanut butter mixture over everything and then stir well to ensure ingredients are well coated.
7. Line a 9 x11 baking dish with parchment paper. Transfer the granola mixture into the pan and press it down with a spoon. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes, then remove and cut into bars.
Enjoy!
