Why buy it, when you can just make it yourself!
That’s my motto for so many things, especially snacks.
I like having control over what’s in my food, especially if my kids are going to consume it, and granola bars definitely top their list.
I got the idea for this bar from a favorite L.A. Nutritionist.
She has a granola bar with tons of potent seeds, plus some other fun add-ins like coconut, cereal, and berries.
Slipping superfoods into food has been my jam for a decade now, so I decided to take a similar approach with similar seeds, but I omitted some things which had me formulating a slightly different bar.
I also chose to elevate these with potent goji berries.
Goji berries have been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years for everything from eye health to liver function.
Today, they often get labeled as a superfood for its polyphenols, which help fight off free radicals and lower inflammation, they also have a nice dose of vitamin C.
These bars could not be easier to make either.
You simply mix all your dry ingredients: oats, seeds, goji berries.
Then you mix a little almond butter with some coconut nectar and melt it on low heat.
Coconut nectar is one of my favorite, natural sweeteners. This brand is a fav and has sort of a caramel flavor. It’s similar to maple syrup and low on the glycemic index, so it doesn’t spike insulin levels.
If you’ve never tried it, this is a great recipe to test the waters.
Mix your oats with the melted mixture.
This is a good time to throw in some chocolate chips for a little extra sweetness (I like dairy-free chips).
Last step, pour it all into a greased pan, pressing down firmly to really pack it in.
I like using a bread pan for thicker bars, but you can use any pan just note it will impact thickness.
Pop it into the freezer for a few minutes to firm up, then cut and enjoy!
Here’s what you’ll need for this protein, vitamin filled, energy-boosting bars!
Goji Berry Granola Bars:
•2 cups gluten free oats
•1/4 cup hemp seeds
•1/4 cup sunflower seeds
•2 tablespoons sesame seeds
•2 tablespoons chia seeds
•1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
•Dash of salt
•1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
•1/4 cup dairy free chocolate chips
•1/4 cup to 1/2 cup goji berries
•1/3 cup almond butter
•1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons coconut nectar
Directions:
1. Mix first 7 ingredients together, set aside.
2. Melt almond butter and coconut nectar on low heat. Once melded, take off stove and stir in vanilla.
3. Mix oats and coconut nectar mixture together. Fold in chocolate chips now.
3. Lightly grease a bread pan or another pan, and press mixture firmly into pan and pop it in the freezer for 20 minutes to firm up.
4. Remove bars from freezer, cut to desired thickness and serve.
NOTES:
*Yields 8 bars out of a bread pan, up to 12 bars in 9×7, or 8×8 pan.
*You can sub honey or maple syrup for the coconut nectar.
*Store in fridge.
*Recipe has been adapted from Elissa Goodman Seed Bars.
