Kiddo Tested, Mama Approved

And Mama’s gonna want to eat them all up!
Bars so versatile (including a protein option!) you’ll never need a another recipe again.

How often do you hear the words: "Mom, can I have a bar?" At my house, it's at least once per day. Since my kids first tried store-made bars they were addicted. They would eat one every day if I let them. In fact, when my son recently asked for one, and I told him no, he replied:

"But Mom, I am totally bar crazy!" It's true. He is.

Most bars on the market are incredibly expensive for what you get, and highly processed. Even the bars with cleaner ingredients and less ingredients are still expensive and usually too high in sugar for my taste.

When I started playing around with bar recipes it took me a few go's to find one that would satisfy me, my husband and both my kids. Leroy hates pumpkin seeds, Jax doesn't like raisins, Gaby doesn't like the taste of dates, and we all love a bar with a hint of peanut butter.

The great thing about this recipe is that you can totally tweak the ingredients to suit your family's taste. I always make a double batch, because trust me, they go quick!

The Recipe

Mix together the dry ingredients in one bowl.
This part is really flexible, so use what you have + what you love!

DRY INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups gluten-free rolled oats
• 3/4 cup gluten-free rice crisp cereal
• 1/4 cup finely chopped cashews
• 1/4 cup chopped almonds (or any nut/seed of your choice)
• 1/4 cup (30 g) ground flaxseed
• 1 Tablespoon unsweetened shredded coconut (use 2 Tbsp for stronger coconut flavor)
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt or fine sea salt
• Optional: 1–2 scoops of protein powder

Mix Wet Ingredients

Increase or decrease the sweetness level to your taste!

Keeping the chocolate chips for the top means you can use less, but it looks like more!

WET INGREDIENTS

• ½ cup brown rice syrup
• 1 Tablespoon pure maple syrup
• 1/4 cup nut butter (recommended: half almond butter, half peanut butter)
• 1/2 Tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Handful of dried cranberries or raisins (for topping)
• Handful of chocolate chips (optional, for topping)

Mix it all up!

Try your best not to eat too much while you go . . .

So you can sit back and really enjoy one when you are all done - trust me, it’ll be worth it!

DIRECTIONS

• Line an 8x8 inch pan for a single batch or 9x11 inch pan for a double batch with parchment paper.
• Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl.
• Heat the brown rice syrup over low heat in a pot.
• Add the other wet ingredients and heat through.
• Pour the heated wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and mix well.
• Transfer the mixture to the pan and use your hands to spread it evenly, pressing firmly.
• Evenly sprinkle chocolate chips and cranberries over the top.
• Place in the freezer for 15 minutes.
• Remove from the freezer and lift the mixture out of the pan using the parchment paper onto a cutting board.
• Cut into bar-sized portions and individually wrap in saran wrap or parchment paper.

The bars last great in the freezer but I typically keep a few in the fridge so my kids can have easy access for when they ask for a bar!

XO, Andrea