No Bake Coconut Almond Granola Bars
Granola bars are one of those convenient snacks everyone gravitates towards. I totally get it! I used to be a granola bar junkie too, until I learned better. No surprise here, but I don't purchase the ones from the grocery store anymore because they are typically loaded with unnatural sugars, preservatives, chemicals, filth, dirt, and grime. Well, might as well have all that stuff in there.
Our bodies crave real food and real ingredients. I love making my food from scratch because I can control everything that goes in it.
I have been thinking about this recipe for several weeks now, and was excited to play around in the kitchen with my ideas. They're a spin-off of my No Bake Energy Bites, but with almond butter instead of a peanut butter, plus a few additional finger-licking changes. Anything with "no bake" in the title is a major turn on, too. AmIright? Not a great baker...this girl here. But, mixing things in a bowl and throwing it in the fridge? Hey, I can do that.
After these babies cooled and set, Dan and I immediately dove in. It was love. In fact, I wasn't sure I would have any of these bars left to photograph because we couldn't keep our mits out of the pan. A good sign, I suppose!
These granola bars are naturally sweetened with the honey and have the perfect crunch from the toasted almonds. They're everything you want a granola bar to be. Yum Yum Yum.
No Bake Coconut Almond Granola Bars
Ingredients
1 cup whole oats
1/2 cup raw almonds, toasted and chopped
1/2 cup almond butter
1/2 cup shredded organic unsweetened coconut
2 tbsp chia seeds
1/3 cup honey or maple syrup to make vegan
1 tbsp coconut oil, melted
1/2 tsp almond extract
Instructions
Toast the raw almonds in a fry pan over medium heat until they begin to brown
Let them cool completely, then roughly chop
Toss all ingredients into a large bowl and stir until well combined
Empty mixture into a 8x8 pan and firmly press down until mixture is packed and evenly spread out (no need to grease pan)
Chill in fridge for an hour before cutting into bars or squares
Store in fridge for up to a week or freezer for up to 3 months
Notes
Makes about 10 standard sized granola bars or 20 small squares. They hold up best when stored in the freezer after they're cut (this is how I store them). Fridge is fine too, they will just be a little softer!**Gluten Free if made with Gluten Free Oats**
If you decide to go the freezer route, I recommend cutting and loosening them from the pan first. If you don't, well, good luck getting them out! ;)
