No Sugar Granola Bars

I've mentioned a time or twenty that my son is a picky eater. Selective, they say in some circles. One food that he is usually willing to eat is granola bars. His absolute favorite are iced oatmeal cookie-flavored Clif Zbars, but when I get my act together (wait...that never actually happens), we love to make homemade granola bars together.

Some of our favorites are these No Bake Granola Bars. They are crazy good, but I wanted to come up with a version that had less sugar. I was having a hard time getting my new bars to stick together, so I turned to you, friends, for help! Thanks to your comments and suggestions on Facebook, we came up with a winning recipe.

Dates add sweetness, stickiness, and a hearty helping of fiber. Peanut butter contributes protein and more holding power so these bars don't crumble. Oatmeal means you'll be full all the way to lunch time. Ground flaxseed boosts the healthy omega-3 fatty acids. I did include mini chocolate chips on top, but this is an optional ingredient. There's no way my kid will touch a granola bar without chocolate chips, so it's a non-negotiable in my house. With mostly healthy ingredients, a little bit of chocolate can't hurt, right?

One thing I do know: when it comes to granola bars, crowd sourcing for the win!

Let's get cooking!
Erin

No Sugar Granola Bars

25 pitted dates
2 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup pecans
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
3 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)

Pulse all ingredients except chocolate chips in a food processor until combined. Press evenly into a foil-lined 8" square pan. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and press them into the bars. Refrigerate 1 hour before removing the foil and slicing into bars. Store granola bars in the refrigerator.

No-Bake Granola Bars (Kid-Approved!)

My 3-year-old son loves granola bars. Loves them. Unfortunately, his favorites are enrobed in a thick casing of chocolate. Delicious, yes, but not the healthiest treat. So I set out to make a granola bar that he would find just as tasty, but would fill his belly with healthier ingredients.

I'm always looking for ways to sneak protein and fiber into Danny's meals. These granola bars feature oats, peanut butter, almonds, and chia seeds to add nutritional punch. A sprinkling of mini chocolate chips, and he overlooks the healthy stuff. That's a win in my book.

And since my boy enjoys a cooking project, we got to make this snack together. Full bellies? Check. Mother-son bonding? Double-check.

Let's get cooking!
Erin

No-Bake Granola Bars
Adapted from Two Peas and Their Pod

2 cups quick oats*
1 cup Rice Krispies
1/2 cup sliced almonds
3 tablespoons chia seeds
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
Scant 1/4 cup brown sugar, loosely packed
1/4 cup honey
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Line a 9" square baking dish with aluminum foil. (I'm sure an 8" dish would work just fine, too. Your bars will just be slightly thicker.) The non-shiny side of the foil is non-stick, so make sure the shiny side is down so the non-shiny side will be touching the granola bars.

In a large bowl, stir together oats, Rice Krispies, almonds, and chia seeds. Set aside.

Combine butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, honey, and salt in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Bring mixture to a boil. Allow it to boil for two minutes, stirring constantly, then remove from the heat. Stir in vanilla.

Very carefully pour melted peanut butter mixture over oat mixture and stir until everything is completely combined. Place into prepared baking dish and press granola bar mixture into the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and gently press so they adhere.

Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Slice into bars that are the best size for your family. I cut mine into 18 bars, and that seemed just right. (Although Danny could eat two per serving!) Store in the fridge.

*Since I didn't cook these granola bars, I used quick oats. I think old fashioned oats would be too chewy. But let me know how they turn out if you make a substitution!

Peanut Butter Energy Bites

I'm pretty sure my son is the pickiest eater in the history of picky eaters. Here are the things he will eat:

• Creamy Peanut Butter (Only eaten if he can lick it off a honey wheat pretzel. Please note: he doesn't eat the pretzel itself; it's merely a vehicle.)
• Saltines (Don't even try to give the kid Ritz. He eats only square-shaped crackers.)
• Annie's White Cheddar Bunnies (Not the orange ones. This I learned after purchasing a lifetime supply of the orange ones at Costco.)
• Macaroni and Cheese (Must be from a box.)
• Mashed Potatoes (Must be instant. Seriously.)
• Apples, Bananas, Melon, Grapes (Preferably purple.)
• Anything in a squeezie pouch. (As an experiment I once served him squash and a squash squeezie pouch in the same meal. He ate the pouch and refused to touch the stuff on his plate. Try explaining the irony to a three-year-old.)
• Noodles (Served plain. Don't consider adding sauce.)
• Oatmeal (He would eat oatmeal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner if I let him.)
• SWEETS (Cupcakes! Ice cream! Cake! Cookies! Chocolate! The boy knows the good stuff.)

On a whim I decided to enlist his help in whipping up these Peanut Butter Energy Bites. They contained three of his food groups, so I thought there was a chance he'd try them. And, glory be, he did. And...he liked them! 

Guess what we're having for lunch every day now. 

Let's get cooking!

Erin

Peanut Butter Energy Bites
Adapted from Get Creative Juices
About 24 bites

1 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup finely chopped toasted pecans
1/3 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons chia seeds
1 teaspoon vanilla

Place all ingredients in a large bowl and stir together until everything is evenly combined. Roll into 1" balls and place on a parchment- or waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until set, about 1-2 hours. Store in the refrigerator.

P.S. If at all possible, enlist the help of your adorable kid in making Peanut Butter Energy Bites. Here's mine, making his "CHEESE!" face. (Also pictured, my very messy house. Real life here, people.)