Description
Chewy, nutty, chocolaty, and packed with tasty energy, no one will ever know these bars are low-fat and healthy! They’re very easy to make and you can pack in everyone’s favorite nuts and fruits. My family has now stopped buying Kashi® and chewy bars because we love these so much. These are gluten-free when made with rice flour and appear to be professionally made thanks to the small spoonful of corn syrup that keeps everything tightly combined and gives the bars a nice shine. Have fun experimenting with different combinations of nuts, dried fruits, and toppings! Almond butter works well, too!
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup peanut butter
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
- 1 ⅔ cups old-fashioned oats
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsalted peanuts
- ½ cup raisins
- ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips (Optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch square baking dish.
- Stir peanut butter and melted butter together in a bowl until smooth. Add brown sugar
- honey
- corn syrup
- vanilla extract
- cinnamon
- and salt; stir. Mix applesauce into peanut butter mixture.
- Combine oats and flour in a bowl; toss to coat oats with flour. Stir peanuts and raisins into oat mixture. Pour peanut butter mixture over the oat mixture; stir to coat completely. Spread mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Sprinkle chocolate chips over the top and continue baking until chocolate melts and edges begin to brown
- about 5 minutes more. Spread melted chocolate chips with the back of a spoon or a rubber spatula to coat the top. Cool completely before cutting into bars.
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 1 hr
Servings: 12