Homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

I saw this recipe on the Marathon Mom blog for homemade granola bars and absolutely LOVE them. They are always a crowd favorite when I make them and kids gobble them up. I adjust her recipe slightly by using pecans instead of peanuts, adding dried cranberries and dropping the wheat germ. I have also made them with crushed graham crackers and marshmallows to make "smore" granola bars. Get your kids involved and have them pick out some ingredients and get creative!  On top of being so yummy its so much cheaper than buying them from the store. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
• 1/3 cup local honey
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1 1/2 cups oats
• 1/2 cup ground flax seed
• 1/2 cup  chopped pecans
• couple handfuls of chocolate chips
• couple handfuls of dried cranberries

Steps:

1. Melt peanut butter, honey, and coconut oil together in a small sauce pan over low/medium heat, stirring constantly.
2. Stir in all other ingredients except for chocolate chips and cranberries
3. Let cool off heat for several minutes.
4. Place mixture onto wax paper (I use Martha Stewart paper) on cookie sheet and press into square
5. Sprinkle chocolate chips and cranberries over top and press down firmly with hands.
6. Place in fridge or freezer to set.
7. Flip the mixture out onto cutting board and cut into desired bar sizes. 
8. Store in fridge for best results.