5 Ingredient Granola Bars Recipes

HEALTHY 5-INGREDIENT GRANOLA BARS

Steps:

• Process dates in a food processor until small bits remain (about 1 minute). It should form a "dough" like consistency. (Mine rolled into a ball.)
• Optional step: Toast your oats (and almonds if raw) in a 350-degree F (176 C) oven for 10-15 minutes or until slightly golden brown. Otherwise, leave them raw - I prefer the toasted flavor.
• Place oats, almonds and dates in a large mixing bowl - set aside.
• Warm maple syrup (or agave or honey) and peanut butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir and pour over oat mixture and then mix, breaking up the dates to disperse throughout.
• Once thoroughly mixed, transfer to an 8x8-inch baking dish or other small pan lined with plastic wrap or parchment paper so they lift out easily. (A loaf pan might work, but will yield thicker bars // adjust size of pan if altering batch size).
• Press down firmly until uniformly flattened - I use something flat, like a drinking glass, to press down and really pack the bars, which helps them hold together better.
• Cover with parchment or plastic wrap, and let firm up in fridge or freezer for 15-20 minutes.
• Remove bars from pan and chop into 10 even bars (or 9 squares // as original recipe is written). Store in an airtight container for up to a few days. I kept mine in the freezer to keep them extra fresh, but it isn't necessary.

HOMEMADE GRANOLA BARS

Steps:

• Combine the oats, almond butter, almonds, chocolate chips and honey in a medium-sized bowl. Stir until well combined. Add more honey if needed to hold shape and salt and cinnamon, to taste.
• Line a 8×8" pan with parchment paper, allowing the paper to fall over the edges. Press the oat mixture into the pan.
• Place in the freezer for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until firm. Remove paper from pan and then cut the large square in half. Then cut each half into 6 rectangles. Wrap bars individually with parchment paper or plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator or freezer.

5-INGREDIENT GRANOLA BARS

Steps:

• 1. Combine peanut butter and honey in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Melt to combine ingredients. Just be sure to keep stirring the ingredients.
• 2. Once the ingredients look blended well, stir in the oats and other optional ingredients, like chocolate chips, or nuts. (I just added the raisins.)
• 3. Press into a 9x9-inch pan that is lined with aluminum foil, and then sprayed with olive oil cooking spray.
• 4. Refrigerate uncovered for 6 hours, or overnight. (I refrigerated mine overnight.)
• 5. Cut granola into bars and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1 week.
• 6. Note: I cut mine into 18 bars (about 3-inch in size per each bar.) But I did not store mine in an airtight container. I didn't cover mine at all, and they held up well.