Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars

With school right around the corner I am on the hunt for healthy, homemade snack options to fill my boys' lunches with as well as have stocked for them when they get home from a long day of learning and playing! This granola bar recipe has quickly become a favorite and I will happily brag when I tell you even my littlest picky eater chooses these over the store bought granola bars!! Huge mom win right there! Ok that's my blurb, thanks for listening...

Let's dive right into the recipe.

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Ingredients needed:

4 cups quick oats

4 tbsp chia seeds

1 cup natural peanut butter

2/3 cup coconut oil

2/3 cup maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla

salt

-optional add

chocolate chips

coconut shreds

truly anything your heart desires

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How to:

Start by mixing together your Peanut Butter, Gently Melted Coconut Oil, Maple Syrup, and Vanilla + salt.

Next add your chia seeds and oats.

Here's where some of you might not like me... I do a lot of measuring with my heart because consistency can vary. The first time I made this recipe I couldn't add enough oats. The second time I definitely stuck closer to 4-5 cups. My pro tip is start with the recommended amount and if your "batter" is still pretty runny I would slowly keep adding until it thickens a bit. You don't want it dry, but you also don't want it super runny.

Once your batter is good to go, get yourself a 9x13 glass pan, line with parchment or silicone mat and pour your mixture into pan. Press down so that your batter is even.

Place pan in freezer until hardened. Pull bars out of pan and cut into rectangles... squares, circles I don't care. :) Just cut and enjoy!!

I store these in the fridge or the freezer. They are actually super delicious straight out of the freezer. They taste like a treat!! I am partial to cold dessert anyway so if you are NOT, definitely just store in the fridge. You can keep your extras in the freezer though so they last longer!!

Let me know if you make these and any extras you choose to add!!