Nourishing Granola Bars

Hi all!  Hope you are ready for a granola bar, that is sooooooooo heavenly tasting, that you cannot believe how nourishing it is for you!  These little bars are just brimming with nutrients to boost our health,  such as healthy fats and protein.  This is a fun way to eat dried fruit, seeds, and nuts.....oh, and did I mention chocolate?

Throw all listed ingredients into your food processor, besides the chocolate, and whirrrrrrr away! 

--2 cups of almonds----I have used half almonds/half walnuts.....substitute pecans or whichever nuts you have on hand.......I soak all of my nuts prior to eating according to the principles in the cookbook Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon.  These almonds were soaked overnight and dehydrated in my dehydrator.  You could also use nuts that have just soaked overnight......you will just end up with bar that is more moist! Still, very good.

1/4 cup of flax seed.....this is pre-ground flax seed.......

And this is the flax seed after I ground it in my coffee grinder......(you could substitute pumpkin seeds (papitas), or chia seeds for the flax seed.....grind them in the same manner....

1/2 cup of raisins.......you can also use dates, prunes, dried cranberries.....most any dried fruit will help it all stick together, and adds wonderful flavor.  We loved 1/4 cup dried cranberries mixed with 1/4 cup raisins......

 

1/2 cup unsalted peanut butter........I like to substitute this with raw maranatha almond butter when I have it on hand....we ran out, and I had picked this up at the store.  A good friend pointed out to me that it had organic sugar in it!  Whoops.....for once I didn't read the label and assumed it had just nuts and oil.  Well, lesson learned I guess.  It did make for some tasty bars, but next time I'll stick with sugar free.  My kids are plenty sweet enough, thank you!

 

1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut:

1/2 cup of melted coconut oil:  Nutiva naturals is my favorite brand.....I either buy it in the 54 ounce jars from The Raw Food World, or buy it when there is a deal on Amazon.....coconut, red palm, and olive oil are the only oils we now use in our home.  We believe they are the best for you for myriads of reasons=)

2-3 teaspoons of organic vanilla extract:

1

1/2 teaspoon of sea salt:  If your nut butter is already salted you may not need any.

Throw it all in the food processor and give it a good whirrrrrrrrrr.....

 

Press into an 8x8 pan, cover with cover, and place in fridge for 30 minutes.....

Optional but tasty:  Melt 1/4 to 1/2 a bag, or half of a dark chocolate bar to layer on the top after the pan has chilled out in the fridge for 30 minutes.  Place back in fridge 20-30 minutes.

And there you have it!  Scrumdidlyumptious! 

After I inhaled....er, I mean, slowly savored, my portion, I dished out the remainder to the kids. 

"Why kids, I don't know why there is only half the pan left, daddy must have gotten into it while it was in the fridge..."  (wink, wink)

 

Just to recap in one spot, here is the recipe:

• 2 cups almonds
• 1/4 cup ground flax, chia or pumpkin seeds
• 1/2 cup dried fruit
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup unsalted peanut or almond butter
• 1/2 tsp. seal salt (if needed)
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• Not pictured:  1Tbsp. Honey or Maple Syrup
• 2-3 tsp. vanilla extract

    Mix all ingredients in food processor, then press into 8x8 pan, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

• up to 1/2 cup or 1/2 dark chocolate bar

    Melt chocolate on a lower heat setting on stovetop, and pour onto bars.  Refrigerate again until chocolate hardens....around 20-30 minutes depending on how thick it is.
   

That's it....I think you will be very suprised at how easy healthy granola bars can be.  I recommend doubling this recipe....for they go fast!

Blessings to you,

Joy

Recipe originally sent in by reader from Passionatehomemaking.com


Please note:  I may be a nurse, but I am not a doctor....I am just passing on info we have found to be helpful in our home that has added to our health.  Please do not assume I am attempting to cure, prevent, or treat any diseases!  Thank you!

Comments

[Nina]

These are soooo delicious. Everyone in our home LOVES them (even my hubby!) They are just packed with whole food energy! We made cocoa ones (I was out of chocolate to melt and just added cocoa powder to them) and they were great. Make AT LEAST a double recipe - they do go fast.
Nina

[Joy]

Yes!!! We have them at least once...sometimes twice every week! Soooo yummy!

[deepti]

these look soo good! I can't wait to try them when I get my glass pan, can I use a 8x8 cake pan lined with wax paper?

[Joy]

I'm not sure you necessarily need to line it with the wax paper...however, it would be easier to pull it out and cut them up that way...let me know how they turn out!

Joy

[Maria]

I really want to buy the Nutiva coconut oil, but how do I figure out when amazon has them on sale

[Christina]

Thank you sooooo much for this!! A Facebook contact of mine posted the recipe today and I believe at least three of us have made it. They are TO DIE FOR! Soooo happy to have a raw alternative to Lara Bars. Many of the Lara bars have walnuts and pecans, which don't agree with me, and they are expensive to boot. I've found other granola bar recipes but they often require a lot of sugar and require cooking. This is WONDERFUL. I can't thank you enough!

[Joy Y.]

Maria,

Right now, you can get 2 (two) 15 ounce tubs for $11.51 on amazon. That is .38 cents per ounce, and I consider that to be a good deal. If you don't understand how to do subscribe and save, shoot me an e-mail and I'll walk you through it. (That way it will ship free as well.) When amazon does not have that deal going on, look at rawfoodworld.com, tropicaltraditions.com or even mountainroseherbs.com and watch for sales or free shipping days. Then, your best option might be to buy in bulk. Know your target price, and shop around for a minute when running low. It really only takes a short amount of time, and saves you a ton!
Hope that helps..

Joy

Christina,

I am so glad you love this recipe! It is a favorite of ours too, though, I can't take credit for it. You definitely don't need sugar to have an awesome and sweet recipe that everyone in the family can be crazy about. These are "crazy" full of nutrients to boot.

Glad you love 'em!

Joy

[Maria]

Thank you! I just ordered some from amazon.

[Joy Y.]

Maria,

Glad I could be of help! Let me know how yours turn out!

~Joy~

[Amy]

Oh bless you! I am so excited to find a gluten free, oat free granola bar. I can't wait to make these!

[Joy Y.]

Amy,

These have been made more than any other granola bar in this house....I literally crave them! Sooo good!

~Joy~

[Rebekah]

Ooh, those look very good! I make something similar but roll them into balls. My husband gobbles them up. I bet he'd really like these as well.

[Joy Y.]

That sounds lovely as well....have a link handy so others could check it out with me as well? Thanks for your comment Rebekah, and I hope your husband does enjoy them.

~Joy~

[Meadow_Angel]

Joy, I just came across this delicious-sounding recipe. I am sure they will go quickly, but since only my husband and I make up our household, could you please tell me how to store them and how long they last? Thanks so much!