Granola Bars

Packed with Protein and Delicious!
There is only so much protein you can consume in a day and finding a tasty alternative to that boring tasteless protein bar isn't always easy. I've tried a lot of them and I have to be honest, there is always one that has something I don't care for.  So, I find myself saying over and over in my head while I chew vigorously and find myself gagging for water "Its good for you Natalie" or "Its not that bad" or "Suck it up, its 30 grams of protein". I have been trying for over a year to find a recipe for a high protein content granola bar, that tastes delicious, that's healthy and that is cost efficient to make.  I did it! I found a few recipes and after some tweaking can finally say this recipe is fool proof and delicious.The best part is kids will love them, especially if you want to get the kids involved in the kitchen this is a recipe that they can help with.  It gives them a sense of pride and a greater chance they will try it!










2 cup rolled oats (not instant)
3/4 cup of chopped almonds
½ cup sweetened shredded coconut
½ cup dried blueberries or currants
¼ cup unsalted sunflower seeds
¼ cup unsalted pumpkin seeds
3/4 cup peanut butter 
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
⅓ cup unsalted butter
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp fine salt
1 large egg


~Preheat oven to 350 F and line a 9-inch square pan with parchment paper (you can spread a touch of butter to the bottom of the pan before placing the parchment paper, it will help keep it in place)
~Beat the egg and set aside
~Mix oats, coconut, raisins, sunflower and pumpkin seeds together in a bowl (this is where I let the kids help, pre-measure the ingredients and have them put everything into the bowl and mix well)
~In a pot over medium-low heat, stir peanut butter, brown sugar, butter, spices and salt just until its melted
~Pour melted mixture over oat mixture and gently stir until blended. Stir in the beaten egg
~Spread granola into prepared pan, patting down to make even. (You can even let the kids do this step) Wetting your hands lightly before pressing the mixture in will help to keep in it the pan and off your hands
~Bake for 30 minutes at 350 F then cool for 30 minutes.  The longer you can resist cutting into them, the better they will be.  If you have the will power, place them in the fridge to sit and firm up for an additional 30 minutes
~When you can resist any longer, cut them into squares. I like to wrap them individually in wax paper and place them in a sealed plastic bag.  If you break a few while cutting, Its ok! In fact, I keep a few aside and break them up into pieces and store the granola it in an air tight container. Perfect for my morning yogurt or my late night Ice Cream craving. You can even add it to your cereal for flavour and that extra protein always helps!


Have fun with the recipe, feel free to change up the nut options.  Ive used peanuts, cashews and hazelnuts. They all work well, just be sure to keep the measurments the same as the recipe calls for.  Also, use whats in Season! I used dried Blueberries in this recipe, but feel free to add any dried fruit. Dried apricots and raisins all work too! 


Natalie