Enter these chocolate peanut butter energy bars from Health
Magazine. Made with whole wheat flour and oats, they were definitely better
than a candy bar from the vending machine or a cookie leftover from a meeting.
I even cut the amount of sugar in half, mostly so that after dinner I could
justify eating whatever baked good is inevitably in my kitchen at the time.
What’s your go-to afternoon snack?
One Year Ago: Strawberry Basil Pesto Pasta Salad
Two Years Ago: Roasted Red Pepper Artichoke Bruschetta
Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bars
adapted from Health July/August 2012
Ingredients:
-1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
-1/2 tsp baking soda
-1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
-1/2 cup light brown sugar
-1/2 cup peanut butter (chunky or creamy)
-2 large eggs
-2 tbsp canola oil
-1 tsp pure vanilla extract
-1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
-3/4 cup dried cranberries
-1/2 cup dry-roasted peanuts
-3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 9 x 13 inch pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.
2. In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and cinnamon. In a large bowl, beat the peanut butter with the brown sugar. Add eggs, oil, and vanilla and beat until combined.
3. Add flour mixture to peanut butter mixture and stir to combine. Stir in oats, cranberries, peanuts, and chocolate chips.
4. Press mixture evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until lightly browned and firm to the touch. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack before cutting into squares.
*Bars can be stored in an air-tight container at room temperature for 3-4 days.
