Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Remember a few weeks ago when I mentioned the care package I sent to my brother and sister-in-law just in time before their first child was born? And that the contents went with them to the hospital? Ok you probably don’t remember but here are the granola bars which satisfied their bellies while waiting for Luke to enter into the world.

Knowing that Kate is a chocolate freak, I decided to use the Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter from Peanut Butter & Co. in the making of these bars. And it was the correct choice. When it is never not a good idea to combine chocolate and peanut butter anyway? I even crumbled one of them up in some vanilla Greek yogurt. Oh yea.

Speaking of Luke, I get to meet him in 23 days!! He has been going through a big cuddler phase lately and I hope it hangs around. Kate says he seems to be getting even more cuddly as time goes on, so he might be Velcro by the time I am there. Totally okay with that, until I have to leave and be cuddle-deprived. Did I mention that he is already a sharp dresser as well? Just look at that fabulous bowtie!

One year ago: Bacon-Corn Fritters

DARK CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER GRANOLA BARS

Makes 16 bars

Ingredients:

2 cups dry rolled oats

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 cup wheat germ

1/4 cup ground flaxseed

1/3 cup chopped almonds

1/2 cup chopped peanuts

1/3 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup Peanut Butter & Co.’s Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter

1/4 cup honey, plus more if needed

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease an 8×8-inch baking dish with non-stick spray, set aside.
2. Combine oats, flax, wheat germ, salt, nuts and chocolate chips in a bowl and mix. Add peanut butter and mix with 2 spoons, coating as much as you can. Eventually you may need to mix with your hands – I did this to create more of a dough.
3. Add honey slowly and coat thoroughly. If the granola won’t stick together, add more honey 1 teaspoon at a time and really mix with your hands.
4. Press dough into prepared baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes. Allow to cool completely before cutting into squares (2×2-inch), or bars (1×4-inch).

Source: Adapted slightly from How Sweet It Is.