Healthy 5-ingredient Granola Bars

PREP TIME 10 minutes

COOK TIME 5 minutes

TOTAL TIME 15 minutes

Freezer Friendly 1 month

Does it keep? 3-4 Days

INGREDIENTS

• 1 heaping cup packed dates
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup creamy salted natural peanut butter or almond butter
• 1 cup roasted unsalted almonds (loosely chopped // see instructions for roasting nuts)
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats (gluten-free for GF eaters)
• Chocolate chips, dried fruit, nuts, banana chips, vanilla, etc. (optional additions)

METHOD

1. Process dates in a food processor until small bits remain (about 1 minute). It should form a “dough” like consistency. (Mine rolled into a ball.)
2. Optional step: Toast your oats for 10-15 minutes or until slightly golden brown. Otherwise, leave them raw – I prefer the toasted flavour.
3. Place oats, almonds and dates in a large mixing bowl – set aside.
4. Warm honey and peanut butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir and pour over oat mixture and then mix, breaking up the dates to disperse throughout.
5. Once thoroughly mixed, transfer to an 8×8-inch baking dish or other small pan lined with plastic wrap or baking paper so they lift out easily. (A loaf pan might work, but will yield thicker bars // adjust size of pan if altering batch size).
6. Press down firmly until uniformly flattened – I use something flat, like a drinking glass, to press down and really pack the bars, which helps them hold together better.
7. Cover with parchment or plastic wrap, and let firm up in fridge or freezer for 15-20 minutes.
8. Remove bars from pan and chop into 10 even bars.