Homemade granola bars are a favorite in our house! You can really play around with this recipe and add all the extras your heart desires! Chia seeds, flax, coconut, craisens, fresh chopped strawberries, nuts.... the sky is the limit!! I am simply sharing the base of two very simple ways to make granola bars OR roll these into balls for quick and easy energy bites. ENJOY!!

Grab your natural nut butter, peanut or cashew are my favorites, today I used peanut butter! Next you need raw honey or pure maple syrup for your sweetener. Oats, protein powder (chocolate or vanilla are my go to's, but this is easy to play around with as well. Clean Simple Eats has my favorite protein of all time), salt maybe some vanilla and definitely don't forget the chocolate chips!

Option 1: without protein powder

3/4 cups nut butter

1/3 cup maple syrup or honey

1.5 cups of oats : I suggest adding in slowly so that you don't over oat your mixture! I find that consistency can vary so slowly adding oats will make sure it doesn't end up too dry!

Chocolate chips

Bonus: Melt chocolate chips and coconut oil to drizzle on top or completely cover! Bakers choice!

Instructions:

Start by mixing your nut butter and syrup or honey. Once combined, slowly add your oats. Once you have desired consistency, add your chocolate chips (or whatever other additions you are using)

Line a pan or sheet with parchment paper, pour out your dough and flatten with your hand to desired thickness. If it seems sticky you can wet your hands slightly to help with that.

Melt your chocolate and cover or drizzle. Put in fridge until completely cooled. Cut and store in glass container and keep in the fridge.

Bonus option: WITH protein powder

1 1/2 cups nut butter

1/2 cup honey or maple syrup

1 1/3 cups oats (slowly add again)

1/2 cup protein powder

Pinch of salt

Chocolate chips

Double bonus: Cover or drizzle with melted chocolate

Instructions:

Mix your nut butter, honey, salt and protein powder together. Slowly add your oats and then your chocolate chips. Mini chips work the very best if choose to roll these in balls. Cover your pan or sheet with parchment, pour dough and flatten OR roll into balls! Melt your chocolate and cover or drizzle. Store in a glass container in the fridge.

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When in doubt, get in your kitchen and whip up something from scratch! It's rewarding in so many ways and I pray along the way you find the joy in enJOY! <3