Healthy After School Snacks August 27 2016

Growing up, one of my favorite after-school snacks was Fritos and Planter’s Corn Chips in a can – definitely tasty, but not as nutritious as my older-self now knows.  If I could go back, I’d definitely choose this - an easy, no-bake recipe for healthy granola bars!  

What You'll Need: 

Base Ingredients –

  • 2 ½ cups of Quick-Cooking Oats
  • 2/3 cups of creamy Peanut, Almond or Cashew Butter
  • 2/3 cups Honey
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt 

 

Ingredient Add-Ins – Choose Different Things to Change Up the Snack Batch-to-Batch -

  • ½ cup unsweetened Shredded Coconut
  • 2 cups Cereal – to add crunch
  • ½ cup chopped Nuts – Pistachios, Almonds, Walnuts
  • ½ cup Chocolate Chips – the dairy or non-dairy kind
  • ½ cup Raisins or Craisins

 

What You'll Do:

  • In a medium saucepan, combine the Peanut or Nut Butter and Honey and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until the Peanut or Nut Butter melts.
  • In a large bowl, combine the Quick Oats, Vanilla Extract, Kosher Salt and the optional ingredients you have chosen for your granola bars.
  • Once Peanut or Nut Butter and Honey mixture has melted, pour over the Oats in the bowl and mix it up well to coat all the oats.
  • Grab a 9x16” metal baking pan and spray it with cooking spray.
  • Spread your coated oat mixture into the pan and make as even a layer as you can.
  • Press down firmly on the mixture with a heavy metal spatula to flatten it out as much as possible.
  • Place the pan in the freezer to cool for approximately 10 minutes – longer, if you feel it needs more time to set
  • Remove the pan from the freezer and cut the mixture into bars.
  • Enjoy!