Honey, Walnut, and Fig Granola Bars

I am TOTALLY in love with these Honey, Walnut, and Fig Granola Bars. Can't get enough of 'em. They're nutty and figgy and packed with good-for-ya ingredients. They're great with milk for the kiddos and great with coffee for da mamas and da papas. 😉 They are snack heaven in my book.

I have to admit, these Honey, Walnut, and Fig Granola Bars are a little addicting.

The trick to these yummy (and slightly addicting) snackies is toasting the nuts and oats. It makes for fabulous texture and amazing flavor. I also love that I can get my anti-nut eater to eat them. I process the walnuts so they blend in perfectly with the oats and he's none the wiser. Tricky mommy. 😉

M & M Granola Bars

My 6 year old is a little mister picky pants (don't tell him I said that). I completely understand where he's coming from though, because I was the same way when I was little. I confess that I indulge his pickiness a little - okay, maybe a lot. But I get it. I used to gag on foods I totally love now. So there must be hope for him too.

These M & M Granola Bars hit just the right note with my picky eater.

As I'm trying to keep things more natural around these here parts I've been experimenting with homemade granola bars. Finding one that Ezra will accept is the challenging part. I often make a peanut butter version that he will only sometimes eat claiming he only likes peanut butter in peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (sigh).

Back to School: Chocolate Peanut Butter Funfetti Granola Bars

My kiddos eat a LOT of snacks. I often announce lunch as just another snack time so they'll be more inclined to eat what I put in front of them. Whatever works, right?

The Loverbees are back to school with these Chocolate Peanut Butter Funfetti Granola Bars.

As the start of a new school year is upon us, fun and tasty snacks are a must - for all of us. These Chocolate Peanut Butter Funfetti Granola Bars will provide great energy and incentive to my boys and me as we begin the hard work of learning and teaching. These bars also make a fantastic after school snack or lunch box surprise.

Toasted oats make a big difference in these deliciously fun granola bars.

Start off by toasting your oats. Toasting them brings out a lovely nutty flavor. Let them cool a few minutes and then mix them up with the rest of your dry ingredients. In this funfetti version, I also added a couple tablespoons of sprinkles.



The gooey ingredients get microwaved for 30 seconds until they come together into a thick syrup.

This funfetti peanut butter granola mix has fun written all over it.

Pour the gooey stuff over your dry mixture and mix until well incorporated.



Pour out your luscious peanut butter scented mixture into a parchment lined pan and push the funfetti out of it with a rubber spatula. The better you pack it down, the better the bars will stay together when cut.



Melt your chocolate with a little bit of coconut oil in the microwave and spread evenly over the bars. Sprinkle with another tablespoon of sprinkles.



Set your pan in the fridge until cold and then cut into bars. They cut better when cold. Store them in an air-tight container. They'll last longer in the fridge, but make sure you take them out at least an hour before you want to eat them so that the chocolate is the right temp and texture.

Kids go nuts over these Chocolate Peanut Butter Funfetti Granola Bars!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Funfetti Granola Bars

INGREDIENTS
2 1/3 cups whole oats
1/3 + 2 Tbsp almond flour
1/3 cup desiccated coconut
a pinch of salt
a dash of cinnamon
2 Tbsp sprinkles (I used rainbow jimmies)
2/3 cup natural peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup semisweet or milk chocolate chips
1 tsp coconut oil
1 Tbsp sprinkles for the top

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Spread your oats out evenly on your baking sheet and bake 7 to 9 minutes.
3. After the oats have cooled for a few minutes, combine them with the rest of the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
4. In a medium microwave safe bowl, combine the peanut butter and honey. Microwave for 30 seconds and then stir in the vanilla until mixture is smooth.
5. Pour peanut butter mixture over dry ingredients and mix until well incorporated.
6. Smash into a parchment lined 9 x 9 inch square pan with a rubber spatula. Really pack it down.
7. In a small microwave safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and coconut oil and microwave in 15 second intervals until almost melted. Then, stir until all the chocolate chips are melted and the mixture is smooth. Spread over bars. Sprinkle with a tablespoon of sprinkles.
8. Refrigerate your pan until cold and then cut into bars.