Honey Granola Bars

We ran out of rolled oats. I know this doesn't sound so bad and honestly, it isn't. The scary part is that I ordered another bag of organic rolled oats from the distributor. That's 50 lbs. It's a bit daunting. So between nursing, burping, rocking, planting and whatever else needs to be done, I have been looking for some new recipes using rolled oats, especially ones that use items from the pantry (because I so rarely go to the store) and that are quick i.e. under 30 minutes. So I decided to try a recipe for granola bars since the kids have been wanting them.

Detoxinista had this simple peanut butter and honey recipe and since it looked easy enough (and quick!) I decided to try it first.

Peanut Butter and Honey Granola Bars

2 cups organic rolled oats

1/2 cup organic peanut butter

1/2 cup honey

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

toppings desired

1. Line a standard loaf pan with parchment paper.

2. In a saucepan heat honey to a boil and cook 1 minute.

3. Remove from the honey from the heat and stir in the peanut butter and salt.

4. Add oats and stir to coat.

5. Press mixture into lined loaf pan.

6. Allow to cool completely.*

*I stuck mine in the freezer to cool them quickly but they weren't done before dinner. Then I forgot to take them out until the next morning, hence why the chocolate chips look a little shiny. Next time I will make them in the morning and put them in the fridge so they won't have to thaw before I can cut them.

The verdict? The kids loved them. The flavor of honey is strong so if you aren't fond of honey, this recipe isn't for you. I cannot wait to try this with other types of nut butters, specifically Sunflower Butter and dried cranberries. I also plan on doubling or tripling the batch next time and pressing it into a bigger pan. The kids gobbled this right up and I can see us eating a pan or two a week, especially if we go to the park for a picnic lunch.

I am excited that these were such a success because I have been looking for a granola bar recipe. Now I just need to find a recipe that uses maple syrup so I can change it up this summer.

Enjoy!