Recipe- Super Healthy Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Granola bars make great snack option, they are tasty, healthy and filling. But the problem with the ones available in the market is with the use of artificial sweeteners in them. Somehow they never appear healthy to me because of all the sweeteners that they add in these granola bars and that’s why I hardly buy them. But it’s a different story altogether when you make granola bars at home.

Ingredients

1.25 cups rolled oats
1 cup poha/flattened rice [ or use rice krispies instead]
1 cup pitted medjool dates around 14-15 dates
2-3 tablespoons raisins or chocolate chips
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons honey
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

Method

* Line a 8 X 8 pan with parchment paper and set aside.

* Chop the dates finely or pulse them in a food processor.

* Toast the oats and poha in the oven at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes.

* Mix the oats, poha, pitted dates and raisins in a bowl. Set aside.

* In a saucepan, heat together peanut butter and honey till warm, around 2-3 minutes.

* Pour the honey-peanut butter mixture into the bowl and combine well with oats, poha and dates.

* Pour the mixture into the baking pan, press it down firmly using back of your spoon. Press for 1-2 minutes.

* Bake at 350 F degrees for 15 minutes or till it's set and edges look golden brown.

* Let it cool down to room temperature and then cover with a cling sheet and refrigerate for half an hour.

* Cut the granola bars into desired shapes using a sharp knife.

* Store the bars in an airtight container.