Peanut Butter Oat Granola Bars

These minimal ingredient recipes are really making my life much easier.

Even after quitting my 9-5 office job, I feel like I’m busier than ever. In a really good way, though. Cooking has completely taken over my life and as fun as it is, it’s still work. And after prepping for clients all day, I start to slack on getting great meals together for Jim and I. Thus, I have been relying heavily on snacking to get us through the day. And what’s a more perfect snack then granola bars?

Oh, I know. Homemade, vegan, organic ones.

Store-bought granola bars are generally packed with sugar and “natural flavors”. The actual good-for-you ones cost a small fortune for a teeny box. Needless to say, it’s been awhile since I last had a granola bar. But since we’ve been OBSESSED with peanut butter recently and usually look to nuts and seeds to keep us full, I decided these bars would be perfect…and they were!

1 ripe banana, mashed

1 cup organic rolled oats

2 tbsp homemade or organic peanut butter

1 tsp raw organic sugar

1 tbsp raw, unsalted peanuts (roasted is fine too)

• Mix together the banana, oats, peanut butter and sugar together until a dough is formed
• Shape into granola bar sizes (or a bit smaller) and top with raw peanuts
• Store in freezer to let settle, and either keep in the freezer or refrigerator (I LOVE them frozen)