Chocolate Cherry Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup peanut or almond butter
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 2 cups oats I used old-fashioned
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1/4 – 1/2 cup mix-ins optional such as: flaked coconut, chopped dried cherries or cranberries, chopped pecans or walnuts
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, melt together the peanut (or almond) butter, honey, and coconut oil.
- Remove from heat, and add remaining ingredients. Stir until combined, and chocolate chips are melted.
- Spread mixture into a 9 x 9 inch or 9 x 13 inch pan (depending on how thick you would like them). Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour. Cut into desired sized pieces and store refrigerated.
Notes
Depending on how dense of a bar you like, you can add less oats and/or less mix-ins. As my friend would say, she likes it more “melty” so she uses a little less oats.
I highly recommend chopping the mix-ins into small pieces so you get a good variety in each bite.
If your bars are too firm to cut, set them out for about 15 minutes to allow them to come to room temperature, then return to the fridge.
I used all 2 cups of oats and 1/4 cup of dried cherries, as my mix-in in the bars pictured above, but I think my favorite combination would include: coconut, walnuts, and chopped dried cherries.