Kid Approved "Homemade" Granola Bars!

I am always looking for new recipes that suit the appetite of my growing kiddos, but also suit this moms approval of ingredients! I don't know if you've checked the labels of the average store bought granola bars lately, but they have absolutely no nutritional value and have a mile long list of ingredients that I can't even pronounce. Although they may be convenient, they are not something I choose to fill my pantry with nor my wallet! 

I try not to deprive my kids of the "FUN" or "COOL" snacks to have at lunch time, because I remember being a kid and always feeling jipped if I didn't have the Gushers or the Fruit Snacks, but WHY NOT try and break that mold! Teach the kiddos what real food taste like and how fun it can be to make it ourselves! 

W having fun making his granola!

I got this yummy recipe from one of my Challengers and modified it even more, so it could be as clean as possible.  Although it still does have some sugar in it, I at least know I am filling my kids with pure ingredients and not a bunch of yucky chemicals. We had a ton of fun making them and they thought it was so cool to take them to school today and tell their friends we made them! 

Now for the recipe.....

What You'll Need:

• 2 1/2 cups of Rolled Oats 
• 1/3 cup Coconut Oil (you can use butter if you don't have coconut oil on hand)
• 1/3 cup Stevia baking sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup coconut shreds (you can use dried fruit also)
• 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips (optional, I opted out for this go around). 

How To:

1. Preheat oven to 350. While oven is preheating, line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper or tin foil. Lightly spray with coconut oil.

2. Spread the oats on a cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes (until they are lightly toasted). Then transfer them to a bowl.

3. While the oats are baking, combine the honey, coconut oil, stevia sugar, and vanilla in a small saucepan. Heat the mixture until it's liquid and the sugar has melted completely.

4. Pour the heated mixture into the bowl with the toasted oats and stir to combine. 

5. Let the mixture cool for a few minutes before adding the coconut shreds, or dried fruit and chocolate chips. (If you use chocolate, don't worry about it melting). 

6. Pour mixture into the lined baking pan and press down with a lightly greased spatula. Press hard so the bars are flattened and stay together!

7. Once they are pressed down you can sprinkle the optional chocolate chips on top.

8. Cover and refrigerate the bars for at least 2 hours.

9. Remove granola from the pan and peel away the foil or parchment paper. Cut the big block in half, and then cut into bars or squares.

ENJOY!!

**Store bars in an airtight container for up to a week!**