cashews Archives • A Sweet Pea Chef

This homemade granola bar recipe is free of refined sugar, full of protein, delicious, and good for you! They are so easy to make, and you can change up the bars with a variety of delicious add-ins. I love eating clean, and I love feeling healthy and full of energy. And to maintain a healthy lifestyle, I eat protein-rich meals accompanied by grains and veggies. Wholesome foods and fresh ingredients are what I use to stock our kitchen at home, and I avoid cooking with processed ingredients. But, let’s get honest here. I can go for a snack just like the next person does. Chocolate, nuts, and dried berries. ← Yum! So, I’ll say right now that clean eating does not mean that you have to give up snacking. Good-for-you options are the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth while still maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I’ve come up with an extremely tasty recipe you are gonna love. It’s packed full of nuts, is sweetened with dates and raw honey, and includes chocolate morsels. Yes, you heard right - chocolate! These fail-proof bars are easy to make and versatile. You can change up the add-ins whenever you want to vary the flavors. Swapping ingredients is easy. You can work with what you have in the pantry. Feel like almonds today? Throw them in. Wanna swap out the pecans for walnuts? Go for it. Dried cranberries? Got it. Everyday ingredients are the name of the game here. Pick and choose as you like! These homemade granola bars are so GOOD that you’ll want to keep a batch on hand all the time! HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE GRANOLA BARS Making granola bars is pretty straightforward. Especially with this recipe, because you can swap ingredients out at will. If you are looking for a change of flavor, grab your favorite add-ins from the pantry and make the recipe. Roughly chop the nuts in a food processor and then place in a bowl Process the dates into a paste Add the peanut butter and honey Transfer the mixture to a bowl, stirring in the rolled oats, chocolate morsels, and pepitas Press into an 8x8 inch dish lined with parchment paper Freeze for 15 minutes and cut into bars HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE GRANOLA BARS GLUTEN-FREE To ensure the batch of homemade granola bars is gluten-free, be careful to use ingredients that are certified free of gluten. For example, rolled oats are safe for those with gluten intolerance but may be processed in facilities that also deal with barley, rye, and wheat, which are not gluten-free. Look for products that state they are gluten-free. The same goes for your chocolate morsels or any other goodies you want to add. HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE GRANOLA BARS PALEO To make these incredibly delicious bars Paleo, you’ll have to remove the oats. Oats are a whole-grain food, which makes them a no-no for anyone eating Paleo. Use ground flax seeds or chia seeds as a replacement for the oats. You can also up the amount of add-ins such as coconut. HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE GRANOLA BARS VEGAN To make vegan granola bars, simply replace the quarter cup of raw honey with the same quantity of pure maple syrup. Either one will add just the right amount of sweetness. If you are adding chocolate morsels, purchase a vegan brand. You can also make your own with 100% unsweetened chocolate, coconut butter, and maple syrup. HOW TO STORE AND FREEZE HOMEMADE GRANOLA BARS These super delicious homemade granola bars store well, and you can double the recipe without a problem at all. Once you have cut the bars (and eaten a couple, of course), store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. If you would like to freeze some of them, you can do so for up to 3 months. BEST ADD-INS FOR HOMEMADE GRANOLA BARS The more add-ins, the better! To make these awesomely delicious bars, try these in any combination you like! Pecans Walnuts Peanuts Almonds Macadamia nuts Cashews Chocolate Dried apricots, pineapple, mango, apples, and more Coconut Raisins MORE HEALTHY SNACK RECIPES Looking for more healthy treats? These are some of my favorites: Parmesan and Sea Salt Popcorn Irresistible Protein Paleo Cookies No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls $850 Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Edible Cookie Dough Easy Paleo 7 Layers Bars How To Make Homemade Granola Bars This homemade granola bar recipe is free of refined sugar, full of protein, and to top that off, good for you! They are easy to make, and you can vary the bars with a variety of delicious add-ins. 1/2 cup raw pecans1/3 cup raw peanuts1/3 cup raw almonds1/3 cup raw cashews2 cups pitted dates1/4 cup peanut butter ((or almond butter))1/4 cup raw honey ((or pure maple syrup))1 1/2 cups rolled oats ((uncooked))1/2 cup dark chocolate morsels2 tbsp raw pepitas In the bowl of a food processor, add the raw pecans, peanuts, almonds, and cashews, and pulse several times to roughly chop. Remove and set aside in a large mixing bowl.Add the dates to the food processor, and pulse until broken down into a paste. Add the peanut butter and honey, and mix until smooth.Transfer the date and peanut butter mixture to the large bowl, and add the remaining ingredients, including the rolled oats, dark chocolate morsels, and pepitas. Stir to combine. Press the mixture into a square 8x8-inch or similar casserole dish lined with parchment paper until fully pressed and compacted.Transfer to the freezer, and freeze for 15 minutes to solidify.Remove, and divide evenly into 10 bars.Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for up to 3 months. This post contains affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend.