So a few weeks before Christmas, my oven broke! YES, I know it definitely stinks! Especially right before I had planned to do all of my annual Christmas baking. But we’ve made due with a stove top and a toaster oven for almost A MONTH! Of course there have been days when I mentally prepare for dinner, then realize that I can’t make it because I can’t bake it. And most obviously I miss baked goods! So since we still haven’t gotten our oven fixed, I went in search of NO BAKE SNACKS. One of the more popular items are granola bars. We’ve tried making them a few different times and have had mixed results. Sometimes they are super delicious and the perfect texture, but they are loaded with corn syrup and other junk. OR they have a bunch of healthy ingredients but don’t taste great or they fall apart the moment they’re touched.
I originally picked this recipe because it used cashews. I just happened to have a container of cashews on hand and I had never tried making granola bars with them. They were a great mix of nutty and fruity, just like the perfect trail mix. With the mix of peanut butter and honey they texture is thick and holds together nicely without being crumbly. I think a crucial part of achieving that was the fact that they have you melt the peanut butter. I had never done that when making these types of snacks but found that it mixed so much better. It does take a little longer for them to set-up but, to me, is well worth it.
- ⅔ cup whole ALMONDS
- ⅔ cup whole CASHEWS
- 1½ cup old fashioned OATS
- ½ cup MINI CHOCOLATE CHIPS
- ⅓ cup DRIED CRANBERRIES or RAISINS
- ½ cup HONEY
- 1 cup creamy PEANUT BUTTER, melted
- Line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper. Leave extra on the sides to use as handles for removing the bars when they are finished. Set aside.
- In a food processor, chop the almonds and cashews into small pieces. In a large bowl, combine the oats, nuts, chocolate chips, and cranberries. Mix thoroughly. Set aside.
- Melt peanut butter and honey in a small bowl and pour over the dry ingredients. Mix until each bit is fully coated, using your hands if necessary. Scoop the mixture into prepared baking dish and press firmly until the tops are completely even. Place bars into the refrigerator to set up for at least an hour.
Recipe Source: Sally’s Baking Addiction
OTHER GRANOLA SNACKS WE LOVE:
I thin my son will flip over these, thanks!