Super Healthy Homemade Granola Bars
It was only in my 3rd pregnancy that I discovered the amazing benefits of creating a freezer meal stash for postpartum. And I was so glad that I did, because my 3rd postpartum period was insanely busy: we had just returned from an assignment in Central Asia and moved into a new house, plus we had our two other little ones to care for.
This granola bar recipe was one of the first things I made. And it was the first thing I reached for on those days when I took a detour through the kitchen between between putting a preschooler down for a nap and feeding a hungry newborn.
These homemade granola bars make a fantastic addition to a postpartum freezer meal stash, but because they are so nutrient-dense, they make a great snack for preconception and pregnancy as well.
Looking to prepare for postpartum by stocking your freezer with ready-to-go freezer meals? Make postpartum meal prep a breeze with my postpartum freezer meal prep guide.
In this free e-guide, I share my signature method for easily preparing freezer meals for postpartum, as well as some of my favourite postpartum freezer meal prep recipes to get you started.
Get your free copy here!
Super Healthy Homemade Granola Bars
Prep time: 20 minutes
Makes 12 bars
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup crispy rice cereal
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup shelled pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup freshly ground flax seed
1/3 cup dried unsweetened cranberries
2 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut
1/4 cup sea salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional)
2/3 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup all natural nut or seed butter
1/2 tablespoon butter or coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
Line a 9” span with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, add the oats, cereal, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds, flax seed, dried fruit, shredded coconut, salt, and cinnamon if using. Stir to combine.
In a small pot, add the maple syrup, nut butter, and coconut oil/butter. Heat over low and stir until the mixture is warm and runny. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
Pour the maple syrup mixture over the dry ingredients and stir with a large metal spoon until the dry ingredients are fully coated and sticky. Make sure to mix well to ensure that everything is well coated.
Scoop the mixture into the pan and spread it out evenly. Use your fingers to pack the mixture down firmly.
Put the pan in the freezer and freeze for 15 minutes.
Remove the pan and place the slab of bars on a cutting board. Carefully cut the slab into 12 equal pieces.
The bars are best chilled: store them in the refrigerator or freezer.
Enjoy!