Nut Butter Granola Bars

Easy, on-the-go, and tasty. Keep these stocked up for perfect afternoon snacks!

​Recipe:
Serving size may vary: about 12 bars 
Ingredients:
1 cup of medjool dates
1 cup of dried or fresh brown turkish figs
1 1/2 cup gluten free oats
1/4 almonds, crushed
1/2 cup go take a hike trail mix (golden raisins, cashews, goji berries, mulberries & pistachios)
2 tbsp chia seeds
2 tbsp flax seeds
2 tbsp hemp seeds
3 tbsp cocao nibs
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup almond butter
1/2 tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp cinnamon 
*optional 2 tbsp maple syrup

​Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F to toast dry ingredients. Sprinkle cinnamon over dry ingredients prior to toasting. Once the oven reaches 350 degree F turn it off, and put dry ingredients in the oven toast.
2. In the meantime, use a blender or food processor to blend the dates, figs, and coconut oil until the sticky dough texture is acheived. This makes the glue of your bars.
3. Next, combine the nut butters and maple syrup in a pot of the stove top for just a few minutes until the mixture is combined evenly.
4. Then, combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl using a spatula or if easier hands until all the indgredients stick together. If there is too much dry ingredient not mixing in take it out as necessary. If not, the bars will come out flakey and brittle.
5. Lastly, transfer the dough into a pyrex container lined with parchment paper or lightly coated with oil, while pressing down evenly. After 15-20 minutes of storage cut the bars. Store the granola bars in the fridge or freezer, and enjoy!

Tips:

• Toasting the dry ingredients is optional, if you prefer to make it raw it taste great either way.
• The pyrex container size does not matter, although if it is is too big you will find the bars come out too thin, but that is an easy fix just process more material than recommmended.
• Fresh figs may also be used, although it will come out wetter and harder to shape.
• Any nuts and seeds can be substituted it is all based on your preference, but the recipe is not strict.
• These can also be shaped in granola balls if preferred. 
• If you want to make these more filing try adding two scoops of protein powder into the blender with the dates and figs mixture. Blend until the powder is blended completely in with the glue.

---