Jan 2012

Peanut Butter Pretzel Granola Bars

Granola bars have to be the world’s most portable snack. As someone who works 12-hour shifts at a hospital, some days I barely have time to use the bathroom let alone sit down and eat lunch. Therefore, granola bars are my saviour to keep me going through a busy day. They are easy to chow down on while I’m rounding on patients or in between OR cases, and they keep me full for a long time. This recipe is highly adaptable to your own tastes, but I am lovin’ the combo of salty pretzels and sweet chocolate chips. Plus, anything with peanut butter in it is always a home run in my book.

Peanut Butter Pretzel Granola Bars
Yields: About 12-15 bars

Ingredients:
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup puffed rice cereal
1 cup crushed salted pretzels
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup chopped dry roasted peanuts
2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon honey (agave should work too)
2/3 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a bowl, combine oats, flour, puffed cereal, pretzels, brown sugar, peanuts, and flaxseed, and stir to combine. Add in peanut butter, and mix with a spoon to break it up and create a “dough,” mixing it in as much as you can for at least 5 minutes. Mix melted butter with vanilla extract and add to dough, then mix. Add in honey and stir to moisten completely. Fold in chocolate chips.

Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with non-stick spray and press the dough into the pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Remove and let cool completely before cutting – there may be minimal crumbling but they should hold together completely. If you find they are crumbling, stick them in the fridge to chill for a few minutes and try again.

Source: How Sweet It Is