In our house granola bars, fig bars, protein bars all fall under one name: Snack Bars. Ever since the boys started talking they affectionally referred to anything in bar “form” as a snack. Bars are such a great way to pack full of healthy additions like flax, omegas, and protein. The enticement to getting the kids to eat them? Add something they absolutely cannot resist. In our house its dark chocolate chips and M’n’M’s. The beauty of the base recipe is that you can customize it to your kid’s preferences. Add whatever is it that they cannot resist, whether its raisins, nuts, white chocolate, caramel or even their favorite chocolate bar, chopped up. The trick is to add those “add-ins” in much fewer proportions than all the healthy stuff. Another sneak trick is to grind up whatever seeds or nuts your kids may not necessarily want to taste but would be great to have in the bar. Someday, you can confess to them that you’ve been adding chia and flax seeds to their bars throughout their childhood, but for now, let’s keep that a secret.
- 1½ cups rolled oats (use quick oats for softer bars)
- 1 cup flour (I use whole wheat)
- 4 Tablespoons Whole flax seeds
- 4 Tablespoons Chia Seeds
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ cup honey
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup creamy almond butter
- ½ cup dark chocolate chips
- ¼ cup mini M'n'M's baking bits
- Pinch Finishing salt
- In a coffee grinder or a high-speed blender, grind up the chia and flax seeds.
- Combine the seeds with oats, flour, cinnamon, salt and baking powder.
- Add beaten eggs, oil, honey, almond butter and vanilla extract. Mix to combine.
- Add half of the chocolate chip and half of the M'n'M baking bits to the mixture. Reserve the rest to sprinkle on top.
- Spread into an oiled 9 X 13 baking pan lined with parchment. Oil your hands to spread out the mixture as it will be sticky.
- Top with the reserved chocolate chips and baking bits. Sprinkle the finishing salt if desired.
- Bake in a pre-heated 350 oven for 25-35 minutes or until it springs back when gently pressed with a finger.
- Let cool completely before cutting into bars. Store covered.
Photo Step-By-Step
In a coffee grinder or a high-speed blender, grind up the chia and flax seeds.
Combine the seeds with oats, flour, cinnamon, salt and baking powder.
Add beaten eggs, oil, honey, almond butter and vanilla extract. Mix to combine.
Add half of the chocolate chip and half of the M’n’M baking bits to the mixture. Reserve the rest to sprinkle on top.
Spread into an oiled 9 X 13 baking pan lined with parchment. Oil your hands to spread out the mixture as it will be sticky.
Top with the reserved chocolate chips and baking bits. Sprinkle the finishing salt if desired.
Bake in a pre-heated 350 oven for 25-35 minutes or until it springs back when gently pressed with a finger.
Let cool completely before cutting into bars. Store covered.
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