Recipe of the Month – No-Bake Peanut Butter Chai Bars

 

Our nutritional partner, Alyssa Lovas, MScN, has whipped up a recipe you don't want to miss this month! 

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No-Bake Peanut Butter Chai Bars

Granola bars are a delicious and convenient snack, but can also be a source of a lot of added sugar. Store-bought granola bars often include multiple types of processed and natural sugars which come in over 60 forms such as brown rice syrup, cane sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, high fructose corn syrup, fruit juice concentrate, evaporated cane juice, and agave. Consuming added sugar can affect our skin, inflammation, energy, blood sugar, mood, and more, so being mindful of your added sugar consumption can support your health and wellbeing!

Making your own granola bars allows you to have autonomy over the ingredients and flavor. These granola bars are sweetened with dates, which unlike processed and refined sugars, also contain nutrients such as fiber, iron, potassium, B-vitamins, copper, and magnesium. This recipe was inspired by a store-bought granola bar I loved and I encourage you to try to recreate your favorite granola bars! The oat-date-nut butter base of this recipe is a great starting point for any flavor combo you want to try. 

Ingredients

• 1 cup medjool dates, pitted (about 10-12 dates)
• 1½ cups oats
• ½ cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon chai spice (to make your own chai spice blend: 2 teaspoons each of cardamom,  allspice, cloves, and nutmeg, 4 teaspoons cinnamon, and 6 teaspoons ginger) 
• ½ cup roasted peanuts, chopped
• 4-6 dried turkish figs, chopped 

Instructions

1. Start by soaking the dates in hot water for about 1 hour.

2. Toast the oats on a baking sheet in the oven at 350F for 12-15 minutes, giving the pan a shake once or twice during that time.

3. Drain the dates and add them to a food processor. Add about ¼ cup of water and process until a smooth paste is formed.

4. Add peanut butter, ground flaxseed, salt, and chai spice to the food processor and process until well combined.

5. Add the peanut butter-date paste to a large mixing bowl, along with the toasted oats, chopped peanuts, and chopped figs. Using your hands, knead everything together to create a well-incorporated, granola bar “dough.”

6. Line a baking dish or pan with parchment paper (for easy removal/clean up) and press the dough into the dish. Using a smaller square dish to press the mixture into the dish can help create a flat, even surface for the bars.

7. Place in the freezer to set for at least 30 minutes.

8. Using the parchment paper, remove the granola bar slab from the dish and place onto a cutting board to slice into bars. Store in the refrigerator or freezer and enjoy!

To learn more about Alyssa and her work, please visit Live Free and Thrive Nutrition.