Wholesome chewy bars with oats, seeds, nuts, and honey made for easy snacking and meal prep.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1 cup crispy rice cereal
03 - 1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
04 - 1/2 cup chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts, or pecans)
05 - 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
06 - 1/2 cup chopped dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, or apricots)
07 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
→ Wet Ingredients
09 - 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
10 - 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter or almond butter
11 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter
12 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
# Steps to Follow:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a large bowl, mix oats, rice cereal, sunflower seeds, nuts, chocolate chips (if using), dried fruit, salt, and cinnamon until evenly blended.
03 - In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir together honey, peanut or almond butter, and butter until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
04 - Pour melted mixture over dry ingredients and stir thoroughly to coat evenly.
05 - Transfer mixture to prepared pan and press firmly and evenly with a spatula or measuring cup bottom.
06 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until edges turn golden brown.
07 - Allow to cool completely in pan. Lift out using parchment overhang and cut into 16 bars.
08 - Keep bars in an airtight container at room temperature up to one week or freeze for longer storage.
