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September 4, 2014 57 Comments

How to Make Granola Bars (Just 4 Ingredients!)

Name: How to Make Granola Bars (Just 4 Ingredients!)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 cup medjool dates, (pitted); 1/4 cup nut or seed butter ((peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed, pumpkin seed, wowbutter, whatever you like!)); 1 1/4 cup old fashioned rolled oats; 1 cup nuts or seeds ((almonds, peanuts, cashews, hazelnuts, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, whatever you like!)); 1/2 Cup Extras (chocolate chips, dried fruit like cranberries, raisins, apricots, coconut); 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice mix, or salt

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Don't imagine me devouring four granola bars while snapping these pictures. Just don't do that.

I had just gotten back from the gym and was s-t-a-r-v-i-n-g! You might remember how in the winter, (gawd that feels like an eternity ago), I was all into the weight lifting thing. Well, I didn't admit this to you until now, but the summer weather lured me out of the gym, and I didn't exactly miss sweating over dumbbells. So this past week, I finally dragged my self back, and I didn't just go back, I went all hardcore and went to the gym 4, count em, 1-2-3-4 times!!! For someone as exercise lazy as me, that is HUGE. I have already made it to the gym 3 times this week too, and am going to try to go 4 times every week this month to whip myself back into shape with my mental drill sergeant. Who's with me? I'm happy to say my efforts have been paying off as I already lost 1 ½ inches on my waist!

There is just something about being a gym buff and the whole back to school season, that make me want to eat granola bars! My solution? You might have guessed it, MAKE THEM! The best solution always. Especially when they are so easy to make and can be customized endless ways! Just 4 ingredients will get you there, 5 if you want to be all fancy and add chocolate chips or fruit or something fun.

I was inspired by this recipe from the Minimalist Baker. If you haven't checked out that blog, you totally should, they have a lot of super yum recipes, and if you are into the blogging thing like me, a ton of blogger resources. Win win! Their recipe for granola bars contained honey (which isn't vegan), but I really wanted my granola bars to be optimum healthy, and extra sugar just wasn't gonna cut it for my new bulging biceps. (ha!)

I removed the honey, and lessened the oats a bit, and YUM! These things are so delish. They are lightly sweet, chewy while still having the crunch of nuts and oats, and I love adding some dried fruit for a little burst of fruity deliciousness every now and then. Perfect for a snack before the gym or to pack for a school lunch. They do tend to be a little more crumbly than store bought granola bars, so just wrap them tightly or pack them in an air tight container.

Lastly, a big congratulations to Nezumi, the winner of the Microplane Giveaway! YAY!

Pit the dates. If dates are new to you, all you have to do is to split the date open with your fingers, and pull out the pit. If you find your dates are a bit hard or dry, soak them in hot water for 10 minutes before tossing in the food processor. We want to make sure they are at peak stickiness as they are the main glue for the bars.

Toss those dates in your food processor and pulse until it forms a gooey paste ball. I know, totally delicious sounding. It kinda really is tho.

If you like toasty flavours (and I like toasty flavours), heat your oven to 350F (180C) and toast the oats and nuts for 10 - 15 mins. You can skip this step if you want to keep your bars raw, or if you are just feeling lazy (no judgements!), but toasting will enhance the flavours.

In a small sauce pan, heat up nut butter just until it is heated through and becomes a bit runny. Add all the ingredients to a bowl and mix. If you are adding chocolate chips or anything else melty, let the mixture cool a bit before adding them so they don't melt.

You may need to get in there with your fingers to really finish mixing it all up. Be careful, it may be hot!

Once thoroughly mixed, scoop the granola mixture into the pans and smooth and pack the bars down until they are firmly packed into the bottom of the pan.

Super secret tip: You can use two loaf pans, or on 8" x 8" pan. In the photo, I divided the recipe into two bowls and added different seasonings to each so I made two types of granola bars! I know, so sneaky. On the left I have salted cashews and cranberries, on the right, almond blueberry.

Toss them in the freezer to set for a good 20 minutes or as long as you like. When ready to chop the bars, pop them out of the pan and using a sharp knife slice them up into bar shapes.

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