The breakfast crunch

It can be hard to find store-bought granola bars that don’t have a list of ingredients you can’t pronounce, and while these snacks might seem healthy, they really ought to be preserved for the occasional treat.

But why waste your time with store bought bars when you can make your own healthy version in no time at all?

To say that this granola bar recipe is simple would be an understatement. It only takes a half hour from start to finish and that includes dishwashing time.

The best part is you’ve got breakfast sorted for the whole week!

These granola bars are a convenient breakfast fix. They’re also healthy and use ingredients you already have on hand and, best of all, they’re vegan! Need I go on?

To keep the bars as healthy as possible, use all natural peanut butter – ideally your only ingredients will be peanuts.

Alternatively, substitute almond butter, or even a nut-free option. The maple syrup can also be replaced with agave syrup, honey or another liquid sweetener of your choice. Dates also have vitamins and minerals and work as the perfect sugar substitute. Definitely feel free to make the recipe your own!

Servings: Makes 12 bars.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups oats
• 1 cup roughly chopped almonds
• 1 cup packed, pitted dates
• ¼ cup all natural peanut butter
• ¼ maple syrup

Instructions:

1. If you prefer your almonds or oats toasted, feel free to do this first. Otherwise, jump right to step 2. Preheat your oven to 350° Celsius. Spread chopped almonds out on one baking sheet and oats on another. Place in oven and keep an eye on them for when they start browning. Remove oats after about 10 minutes and leave almonds in for an additional five minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before handling.
2. Blend your dates in a blender or food processer until a paste-like consistency is achieved. Don’t worry too much about achieving perfect smoothness. Lumps are just fine. Likely they will roll into a ball while you are blending them – this means they’re done!
   
3. Combine oats, almonds and dates in a bowl. Stir as much as possible, but don’t worry too much about getting the dates fully mixed in – this will happen eventually. Set aside mixture.
   
4. Melt peanut butter and maple syrup in a pan over low heat. Stir until just combined and remove from heat.
5. Pour peanut butter and maple syrup mixture over your other ingredients. Stir until well combined.
   
6. Press your mixture into an 8x8 pan and press down with a spatula or hard-edged utensil
   
7. Leave in the fridge or freezer for at least 20 minutes and then cut granola into bars. Granola may still be slightly crumbly, but will certainly be delicious.

Feel free to substitute ingredients for those you have on hand or to add in anything you feel may be missing – chocolate chips and dried cranberries are both welcome additions!

Also try cutting granola into smaller bite size to serve to friends. This treat also makes for a great breakfast with a piece of fruit and something hot to drink!

Recipe adapted from minimalistbaker.com