No-Bake Granola Bars

My favorite things about this recipe: ease to make, availability of ingredients and delicious-ness.

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups quick-cooking oats or steel cut coats
1 cup ancient-grain cereal blend (I use Cheerios + Ancient Grains or just Cheerios)
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/3 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup honey

Once you have put together the base ingredients (up to salt) then you can get creative.  Since we have a massive amount of pecans from our pecan trees (we picked 58 pounds last year!), I put in 1/2 cup chopped pecans and 1/2 cup craisins.  You could do pistachios, almonds, raisins, dried fruit, shredded coconut... do what your family loves to eat! I only add in 2 extra ingredients because I try to keep the calorie count low.

Then, combine the creamy peanut butter and the honey in a saucepan over medium heat.  Cook 2-3 minutes until the peanut butter melts and stir frequently.  Pour over the ingredient bowl and mix well.  Spray a 8x8 pan with Pam and put in the mix.  Pat it down and make it as flat as possible.  Put the whole pan in the freezer for 15 minutes or so and then cut it into even pieces.

I wrap them up in wax paper and put a piece of tape on them.  We take them "on the go" and use them for snacks so I package them individually.

Little packages of sweet goodness.  Mine average 160 calories per serving.

Caution: Make sure you don't fudge on the peanut butter/honey mix or else the bars will not stick together as well.  And you will have crumbs ALL OVER THE CAR.  #truelife

I usually double the recipe and put it in a 9x13 pan. It should make about 18 bars.  Try this one out! It's Delicious. Wholesome.  Yummy.  Made in your own kitchen.