Tag Archives: Granola Bars

Protein Packed Powerhouse Granola Bars

Today we have our monthly Nutrition Support Team meeting. The meeting is at noon, I always like to come prepared with a snack or treat of some sort. These are super packed with plant based protein! Bonus is these are no-bake for this fabulous hot July day! No need to turn on your oven and make it any hotter. 

This recipe yields 16 bars

Ingredients:

1/2 cup slivered almonds

1/4 cup milled flaxseed

1/4 cup sesame seeds

3 tablespoons of chia seeds

1 1/2 cup of quick oats

1 teaspoon apple pie spice

1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt

1 cup creamy cashew butter ( I am fairly excited I found this nut butter at ALDI)

1/2 cup honey

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Pre-directions take a 9 x 9 baking dish and line it with parchment paper make sure to allow for some of the paper to overlay on the sides. This step will help you pull out the bars for easy cutting. Set aside.

Directions:

1. Take the first eight ingredients and mix them in a large bowl. Set aside. 

2. Place peanut butter and honey in a large microwavable safe glass bowl. Place in microwave in 30 second intervals. Stir between each intervals until soft and creamy. Add in the vanilla and stir to incorporate. 

3. Take the dry ingredients and add them to the creamy cashew butter mixture. Fold to incorporate all the ingredients together. 

4. Take the granola bar batter and add it into the prepared 9 x 9 baking dish. Take an extra piece of parchment paper and press it into the top to evenly distribute the batter this will allow for a nice even distribution of your batter for your protein bars.

5. Cover the bars with saran wrap in the baking dish. Place in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight. This step will allow them to firm.

6. Remove the bars utilizing the parchment paper access from the sides. Place on a cutting board and cut into 16 bars. Now you can either individually wrap and freeze to pack them lunches or take to your next meeting. Keep these granola bars chilled or frozen for best results and optimal taste.

Trail Mix Bar

 

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Tomorrow we have our quarterly NST meeting and I always make the team a special treat. Tonight I decided to toss everything but the kitchen sink in these bars. These Trail Mix Bars are very nutritious and will sure give us the extra charge we will need to get through the meeting. These bars would be good for the on the go commuter or as an after school snack.

 

Ingredients:

2 Cups of Brown Puffed Rice Cereal

2 Cups of rolled oats (old fashioned oats)

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/4 cup molasses

1/4 cup local honey

1/2 cup raw sugar

1 tsp Mexican vanilla extract

1 cup rasins

1 cup dried blueberries

1/2 cup peanuts unsalted and roasted

1/2 cup slivered almonds

1/4 cup wheat germ

1 tsp Vietnamese cinnamon

1/4 tsp kosher salt

 

Additional essentials:

9 by 13 pan

Foil

Cooking Spray

Prep work: Line a 9 by 13 with foil and spray with cooking spray. This prep-work will help cut the bars at the end and easier remove from the pan. 

 

Yields 16 bars

Directions:

1. Combined oats, puffed rice cereal, peanuts, almonds, cinnamon, wheat germ, dried blueberries, raisins & salt. Mix with hands to blend thoroughly. Set aside.

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2. In a separate microwavable bowl mix peanut butter, honey, molasses, and sugar. Microwave for 1 minute to 1 minute 30 sections and mix every 30 seconds with a spatula.

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Add vanilla and mix.

 

3. Add hot mixture over the dry ingredients.

 

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4. Incorporate the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Make sure to coat all the dry ingredients with the wet.

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5. Pour batter into the 9 by 13 pan. Spread the granola bar batter evenly using a spatula (sprayed with cooking spray will help). Make sure to press down the granola to prevent the bars from falling apart. Cover and refrigerate for an hour to harden.

Enjoy!

 

 

For best results keep in the refrigerator.