Chocolate Chip Peanut Granola Bars

Recently, my husband & I were hanging out with some friends, and everyone was supposed to make some kind of food.  I was so busy thinking about what to take for my four month old son, that I completely spaced bringing a dish.  My friend, Jess, remembered to bring these.  Everyone LOVED them, so I asked her for the recipe and decided to make them myself.

I gathered all the supplies (recipe below):

I melted coconut oil, PB and honey together, then mixed it with the dry ingredients. 

(Note:  I made this again and substituted the honey for agave nectar and it was just as delicious.  In other attempts, I made it with less agave nectar and less coconut oil and they were still pretty good.  I would be careful about how much you lower the ingredients because they will start to fall apart.)

I smoothed it into a pyrex dish on wax paper and tossed it into the frig overnight.  (You don't have to do that.  You can just put it in there for a half hour or so.)

My son thought the whole process was really boring:

The cat was riveted:

So was the other cat:

 I cut them up and tried them out on my husband who loved them just like he did at the party the other night:

They are healthy and delicious!  Here's the recipe:

Chocolate Chip Peanut Granola Bars

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
• 1/3 cup local honey
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1 1/2 cups oats
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons wheat germ
• 1/2 cup ground flax seed
• 1/4 cup peanuts
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips

Steps:

1. Melt peanut butter, honey, and coconut oil together in a small sauce pan over low/medium heat, stirring constantly.  It only takes a minute or two to melt.
2. In mixing bowl, combine all other ingredients except for chocolate chips, and stir well.
3. Pour liquid mixture over dry mixture and stir til well combined.
4. Let cool in bowl for several minutes.
5. Place mixture into foil lined 8×8 pan and press down firmly.
6. Sprinkle chocolate chips over top and press down firmly with hands.
7. Place in fridge or freezer to set.
8. Flip the foil out onto cutting board and cut into desired bar sizes.  I like to cut a dozen rectangle shaped bars.
9. Store in fridge for best results.