Healthy Recipe: Freeze-Me Granola Bars

    Morning is my favorite time of the day, especially when I can sit at the table and eat my breakfast while drinking a cup of coffee. I love to take a little time in the morning to make a to-do list for the day ahead and get my schedule in order. But sometimes, I spend so much time making my breakfast or packing lunches in the morning, that I don’t get time to relax or eat my breakfast at home. I end up jamming it into my face while I am in the car, frantically on my way to work or school or whatever errands I need to do. And, while cereal is a quick breakfast option, many are made with lots of added sugars, not enough protein, and they don’t keep me full for long. Plus, spilling milk in the car is no fun! 

    That’s why I have been keeping a batch of these granola bars in the freezer! They are cheap to make, jam packed with fiber and protein to keep hunger at bay, and they are extremely tasty! Whip up a batch (or two!) on Sunday for a week of breakfasts on the go! 

Makes 12 bars

1 cup whole natural almonds

1 cup roasted peanuts

1 cup old fashioned oats (GF optional)

1 cup chopped dried fruit of choice

¼ cup + 2 Tbsp Honey

3 Tbsp. Coconut Oil or Butter

½ tsp. Salt

¼ tsp. vanilla extract

¼ tsp. almond extract

    Place ½ cup almonds, peanuts and oats in a food processor or high speed blender. Process until fine. Pour into a large bowl. Roughly chop the remaining almonds and peanuts and add to the bowl. Add remaining oats and dried fruit (I used ½ cup dried cranberries and ½ cup dried apricots!) Mix and set aside. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine honey, coconut oil (or butter), salt and extracts. Stir until the mixture melts and begins to foam slightly. Pour over nut mixture in bowl and mix well. Line a 9×13 sheet with saran wrap and allow enough to lie over the sides of the pan. Pour granola into pan on top of saran. Using another piece of saran wrap, cover the granola and, using your hands, press hard to push it into the bottom of the pan. Place in freezer for 2-4 hours, or overnight. Remove from pan and slice into 12 pieces. Wrap each piece individually with saran and store in the freezer for breakfast or post-workout snack!