My husband works hard and long days outside as a recycling driver. It’s kind of a crappy job, but he’s very good at it. He needs good sustaining food to work all day non-stop. He leaves very early in the morning (4am) and usually eats his breakfast on the go. We were buying him protein bars but they were 1) expensive and 2) I couldn’t pronounce a lot of the ingredients. So I started making him breakfast cookies. They were good but they were too “cookie” like and they didn’t last long because everyone wanted to eat them!
So I started looking into granola bars I could make myself. I had no idea how EASY it was!
Here is the recipe I’ve come up with. Give it a try, you’ll be amazed how easy it is too!
Homemade No-Bake Granola Bars
- 1/2 cup agave or honey
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup peanut butter, homemade or store bought (HM is yummier!)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1 & 1/2 cup oats, old fashion or quick
- 1 & 1/2 cup crispy rice cereal
- 1 cup trail mix of your choice or just dried fruits
- 1/2 cup of toasted Flax Seeds
In a small saucepan bring agave or honey and brown sugar to a boil and remove from heat. Add peanut butter and vanilla, stirring to mix well.
Combine all the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl and pour in brown sugar mixture and mix well! Spread into a 9×11 WELL oiled (with Pam) or lined with parchment paper pan and press down evenly. Pre-cut into bars and then refrigerate until set. Put into individual packages and store in fridge until ready to be packed for lunches!
You can replace the cereal with just extra oats and trail mix for a simple fruit and nut bar. Just as good!
My last batch had no rice cereal and was made with honey. This batch has the cereal, agave and flax seed. I also picked all the almonds out of the trail mix because they make Jason’s mouth itch. I’m such a good wife!
