Chocolate Granola Bars – No added fat or refined sugar!

Quaker had the right idea with their granola bars. Chewy, sweet, textured, and oh so many flavors! The only problem is with all the chemicals found in most store-bought granola bars. And that’s why I take a few minutes to make my own, from scratch and whole ingredients. This is a basic chocolatey granola bar. I get a lot of chocolate cravings, and this is a healthy way to “indulge.” Each bar is less than 100 calories, has no added fats or refined sugars and tastes GREAT! Seriously. Go make these. They require zero skill and don’t even take that much time to bake.

They’re so good, I ate two at once. No shame!

Chocolate Granola Bars, inspired by Undressed Skeleton

Makes 8 bars

• 1 C old-fashioned rolled oats (use GF oats if you’re gluten intolerant)
• 1/3 C ground flaxseed meal
• 1/2 C unsweetened apple sauce
• 1 C unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1 tbsp vanilla
• 2 heaping tbsp cocoa powder
• 3 tbsp real maple syrup
• 1/4 C non dairy milk
• 2 tbsp mini chocolate chips (vegan ones if you like)

Preheat oven to 350. Line a small rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray with PAM.

In a large bowl, combine oats, flaxseed, apple sauce, coconut, vanilla, cocoa and maple syrup. Stir well with a wooden spoon. Stir in milk and mix well. Add in the chocolate chips.

If the mixture looks very dry and crumbly, add a drizzle more of milk. If it looks too wet, add in a spoonful more of oats.

Once it reaches the consistency of something you could mold into cookie shapes, dump it onto the prepared baking sheet. Spread it out with the back of a metal spoon, or sturdy spatula. It should take up half the baking sheet. Flatten it completely.

Bake at 350 for 12 minutes. Once done, remove to a cooling rack.

Let cool 10 minutes before you slice into 8 bars using a sharp knife. Allow to cool completely before removing from the foil.

Eat and enjoy! These will keep well in an airtight container on the counter for a couple days, or you could freeze them to last longer.

I took a trip to my local Sur la Table this weekend, and combined with sales, an emailed coupon and a gift card, I only ended up spending 60 cents on all of this! PINK MEASURING CUPS. Oh yes, this happened. I love that store.

My exciting finds from Sur la Table!