Raising Healthy Kids Month 2012: Organic & Whole Living Recipe: Chewy Granola Bars

After all of the GMO talk lately, I'm tired of packaged products. I'm tired of having to read every single label, every single ingredient and even then, I have to look up ingredients and research said company just to prove to myself the ingredients are safe for consumption. So this past weekend I was inspired to make-from scratch, some yummy snacks for my kiddos and hubbs. 

I've created two Chewy Granola Recipes that I think you'll love, and if you don't they are super easy to change to your taste. 

 

This is what I call the base of the chewy granola recipe. The best part? No corn syrup of any kind and no questionable ingredients! 

What You'll Need:

1/2 cup of nut butter, peanut, almond, sunflower seed etc. 

1/3 cup of honey (I use a little less if I'm adding sweet "mix-ins" 

1/4 of Coconut Oil, this time I used Artisana (thanks to Artisana for providing the Coconut Oil)

Base Directions: Mix all of your base ingredients in a large pot and bring to a simmer from med-low to med. Watch so that you don't really cook the ingredients, you're just wanting everything to melt and to combine really well. 

Next you'll want your "mix-ins" 

1 full cup of any of these mix-in combination; almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumkin seeds, hemp seeds (great for extra protein), chia seeds, ground flax seeds, dried fruit, dark chocolate bits etc.

1 Heaping Cup of Oats. 

 

Almond & Raisin Chewy Granola Bars (Our family's favorite) 

For my 1st recipe I used the following;

1/4 cup raisins,

1/2 cup chopped almonds

1T ground golden flax seeds

1-2 T dark chocolate bits

1 heaping cup of oats.

Simply pour your melted mixture over your oats and mix-ins and stir to combine. Press firmly into an 8x8" pan. Let cool for a few hours or until "chewy set". 

These aren't going to harden up like a normal granola would, that's why they are chewy bars! 

Cut into squares and wrap for easy snacking on the go later! 

 

Walnut & Cranberry Extra Protein Chewy Granola Bars

For this recipe you'll need;

1 cup of oats (not heaping, this recipe is a little dryer than the other one above)

1/2 Cup chopped walnuts

1/4 Cup chopped dried cranberries

1 T chia seeds

1 T golden flax seen meal

2T of hemp seeds  

 Simply pour your melted mixture over your oats and mix-ins and stir to combine. Press firmly into an 8x8" pan. Let cool for a few hours or until "chewy set". Cut into easy to grab and go servings! 

 

I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as our family has. 

What kind of "mix-ins" do you like to add to your granola? 

 

Artisana Review: We created this recipe usuing Artisana Coconut Oil. I can truly say that I absolutely love this product. I love the fact that it is Organic & Raw. We often use the coconut oil in its raw state in our smoothies as well. "

"Artisana Organic Raw Coconut oil is non-hydrogenated, cholesterol-free and comprised of medium-chain fatty acids which are broken efficiently by the body, providing an immediate source of energy.When cooking or baking, use as a substitute for butter or margarine."

 

Truth in Review: Artisana provided us with Coconut Oil & Coconut Butter that we used in these recipes.  We were not paid for any contents of our review or required any certain text within the review. We speak truly from our hearts and hope that you and your family will gain trust from Vintage Indie reviews so that you may enjoy learning opportunities like this one and more.  All reviews posted by me are truthful in content and not bought. Gabreial Wyatt, editor in chief. 

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