{Healthy Recipe} No Bake Granola Bars

There really isn't an excuse for serving unhealthy or eating unhealthy snacks these days. If you want to eat healthier, companies are filling store shelves and everyone is sharing healthier alternatives on their blogs. That is why I'm super excited to share with you the next Gooseberry Patch Cookbook, Good-For-You Everyday Meals! The cookbook is full of healthier recipes and today I'm sharing their No Bake Granola Bars recipe.

Healthier recipe

My kids love granola bars. Over the years I've made other granola recipes but never found a bar that was quite right. This one uses coconut oil which is one of the most heart and cardiovascular protective food available to us in nature! One thing that I have learned over the past 2 years of my healthier lifestyle journey is that our body does need fat....the right fats! Coconut oil is that right type of fat.

Healthier snacks

When you make your own recipes, you control the ingredients. Most recipes can be made with healthier ingredients. In the below recipe, you can choose what type of peanut butter to use or natural or sweetened flaked coconut. You can choose to add in mini chocolate chips or dark chocolate nibs. When you make your own recipe, you control the unwanted sugars, chemicals and more!

Gooseberry Patch Good For You Everyday Meals

No-Bake Granola Bars

Ingredients

1/4 c. coconut oil (plus extra to grease pan)
1 c. creamy peanut butter
1/2 c. honey
2 c. long cooking oats, uncooked
2 c. crispy rice cereal
1 c. sweetened flaked coconut
1/2 c. dried cranberries, chopped
1/2 c. mini semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1-Lightly grease a 13"x9" baking pan with coconut oil; set aside.
2-In a large saucepan, combine coconut oil, peanut butter and honey.
3-Cook and stir over low heat just until blended and smooth. Remove.
4-Add in oats, cereal, coconut and cranberries.
5-Stir just until evenly coated and will combined. Let cool 10 minutes and stir in chocolate chips.
6-Quickly transfer mixture to baking pan; spread evenly with spatula.
7-Take a piece of wax paper/plastic wrap/parchment paper or hand in a baggie and press mixture down evenly and firmly.
8-Refrigerate for one hour before cutting into bars. May be kept tightly cover and refrigerated for up to 10 days (if they last that long). Makes 16-24 bars depending on size cut.

Kitchen Notes

1- Use whatever ingredients you prefer to suit your needs. Best bet is to substitute fruit for fruit and cereal for cereal. If you want nuts added then substitute those with the fruit.
2-Make sure you really do step #7 so the mixture stays together when cut.
3-Wrap bars in plastic wrap for on the go. I did use cheap snack bags because I was using up what I had on hand. They aren't super sticky and came out of the baggies just fine.
4-This can also be crumpled up and used as a topping for yogurt, fruit,etc.

Healthy Snacks and Desserts by Gooseberry Patch

Big win on this recipe and I'll be making more granola substituting ingredients to suit the likes of other family members. Check in tomorrow for more recipes using the Good-For-You Everyday Meals by Gooseberry Patch. I'll also have a giveaway for a copy of the book!

Gooseberry Patch Healthy Recipes

Healthier Recipes from Gooseberry Patch

• Enter to win a copy of the Gooseberry Patch Good For You Everyday Meals cookbook where you can find this recipe and 200+ more healthier recipes. You'll also find the recipes I tested; Honey Fruit Dip, Oo La la French Dressing and Roasted Veggies & Kielbasa with Chicken 
• Homemade Cajun Seasoning

More Granola Recipes

Healthier Crunchy Granola
Skinny Granola