Easy Energy Bars

A lot of you have been anxiously awaiting this recipe since I teased you all with a photo on Instagram last week. Well the wait is over… here it is!

The recipe for these homemade energy bars is something I’ve been holding onto for quite a while. But now that I’ve made them and realized just how tasty they are and just how easy they are to make, I consider myself a complete and total homemade-granola-bar convert. I doubt I’ll ever buy another granola bar again.

These bars are dense and chewy, just the way I like ’em, personally. If you like yours a little more on the crunchy side, I’d recommend lowering your oven temp and baking longer… an easy adjustment. They’re just sweet enough to satisfy without tasting like a candy bar… another feature I like. Plus, all of the sweetness comes from wholesome ingredients like dried fruit and a little pure maple syrup, not from chemically processed sugary additives. No strange ingredients here! I love that these bars as satisfying to my health-conscious self as they are to my taste buds. A total win-win all the way around.

Try ’em and see if you’re not converted too!

Nutty Granola

I’m probably the last person in the world to jump on the homemade granola bandwagon. I don’t know why I waited so long. Part of it might be that I’m usually not a big granola-eater anyway, since I basically have to force myself to eat yogurt. Maybe I thought it was too hard. Maybe I thought store-bought granola was good enough.

Well let’s just say I was wrong on all accounts.

Store-bought granola doesn’t even hold a candle to this epic homemade stuff.

This granola is super crunchy, especially with all those nuts in it.

This granola is just the right amount of sweet. Maple syrup + ground cinnamon = breakfast/snack time/anytime heaven.

This granola is Flat Belly Diet-approved. MUFA, anyone?

This granola is great with milk. This granola is great with yogurt. This granola is great all by itself when eaten by the handful.

This granola also only takes a grand total of 30 minutes to make. You literally mix all the ingredients together in one bowl, pour it all onto a baking sheet, and throw the thing in the oven. That’s it. 30 minutes of work for a week(+)’s worth of crunchy, nutty, mapley deliciousness.

Make it now, thank me later.