Granola Experiment -- Peanut Butter and Chocolate Granola Bars

Everybody has their own granola bar recipe and now I can happily say I have success with my own creation. I can't believe how easy it is to make granola bars. It was so simple I actually started working on a second granola recipe invention with pumpkin and craisins while I was cooking my first granola bars. The second invention didn't work out as great, although it was well on its way to yummy granola cereal before I burned it.

I will be making these granola bars again and maybe next time I will try an apple raisin version. Although you just can't go wrong combining peanut butter and chocolate, at least not with my kids.

2 Cups old fashioned rolled oats
1/2 Cup peanuts
1/2 Cup finely chopped peanuts
1/2 Cup sunflower seeds
1/2 Cup Coconut milk powder
1/2 Cup honey
1 Cup of peanut butter (I used smooth)
2 Tsp vanilla extract
1/2 Tsp salt
3/4 Cup chocolate chips



*Butter a 9 by 9 inch baking dish and preheat oven to 350 degrees.
*Spread the oats and peanuts onto a baking sheet. Place in oven and toast for 10 minutes. When you remove from oven reduce oven to 300 degrees.
*In the meantime, combine honey, peanut butter, vanilla and salt in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until combined. It should only take a couple of minutes.
*Combine toasted oat mixture with coconut milk powder and honey mixture. Add the chocolate chips.
* Place mixture into prepared baking dish and press down.
* Bake for 25 Minutes at 300 degrees.
* Cool completely and cut into squares. Will store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.


This is the last granola experiment for the month. I learned a few things from my granola experiment.
1. I love granola and oatmeal snacks
2. If I want to continue to make granola snacks and cereal I need to stock what I refer to as oatmeal companions: coconut, raisins, honey, craisins, a variety of nuts, and dried fruit.
3. I really prefer coconut milk powder to shredded coconut in my granola. Check out the link in the above recipe for my source for this yummy product.
4. The leftover shreds from frosted shredded wheat cereal make a great granola additive.
4. Don't over toast your granola. Burnt does not taste good.
Next month I am going to be trying recipes with refried beans -- including the infamous refried bean pie. I am going to give you my honest opinions on the pie and other standard food storage, refried bean recipes.