No Bake Granola Bars

No Bake Granola Bars
Yields 9
Healthy, no-bake granola bars with just 5 ingredients and a sweet, crunchy texture. Peanut butter and maple syrup complement each other perfectly in this ideal portable breakfast or snack.
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Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
5 min
Total Time
15 min
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
5 min
Total Time
15 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 heaping cup packed (~220 g) dates, pitted (deglet noor or medjool)*
  2. 1/4 cup (84 g) maple syrup or agave nectar (or honey if not vegan)
  3. 1/4 cup (64 g) creamy salted natural peanut butter or almond butter
  4. 1 cup (112 g) roasted unsalted almonds, loosely chopped (see instructions for roasting nuts)
  5. 1 1/2 cups (135 g) rolled oats (gluten-free for GF eaters)
Instructions
  1. Process dates in a food processor until small bits remain (about 1 minute). It should form a "dough" like consistency. (Mine rolled into a ball.)
  2. Optional step: Toast your oats (and almonds if raw) in a 350-degree F (176 C) oven for 10-15 minutes or until slightly golden brown. Otherwise, leave them raw - I prefer the toasted flavor.
  3. Place oats, almonds and dates in a large mixing bowl - set aside.
  4. Warm honey and peanut butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir and pour over oat mixture and then mix, breaking up the dates to disperse throughout.
  5. Once thoroughly mixed, transfer to an 8x8-inch baking dish or other small pan lined with plastic wrap or parchment paper so they lift out easily.
  6. Press down firmly until uniformly flattened - use something flat, like a wooden spoon, to press down and really pack the bars, which helps them hold together better.
  7. Cover with parchment or plastic wrap, and let firm up in fridge or freezer for 15-20 minutes.
  8. Remove bars from pan and chop into 10 even bars (or 9 squares). Store in an airtight container for up to a few days. These bars can also be frozen for longer storage.
Notes
  1. Vary the flavours with some of these additions: chocolate chips, dried fruit, nuts, banana chips, vanilla, etc.
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