Clif Bars

I can't believe I've never posted this recipe!! This is my all time favorite recipe for granola bars. They are super duper tasty! I make them every couple weeks. You can really tweak it to whatever your taste likes, as long as you have some sort of "glue" to hold it all together.

HOMEMADE CLIF BARS

1 and 1/4 cups crisp rice cereal (Rice Krispies are fine)—I used cocoa krispies for a little chocolate flavor
1 cup uncooked quick-cooking oats
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed (flaxseed meal)

2 tablespoons wheat germ
½ cup dried coconut or ¼ cup finely chopped dried fruit (e.g., raisins, dried cranberries, dried cherries, etc.) and ¼ cup finely chopped nuts or seeds
1/2 cup honey

2/3 cup nut butter (preferably natural, well-stirred, but creamy is fine, too) try to use low sodium, it’s a fairly obvious flavor if you are limiting your salt intake
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 scoops of favorite whey protein powder (if using a vanilla flavor, skip extract)
Optional: 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl.

Combine the syrup and nut butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until melted and well-blended (alternatively microwave in small microwave-safe bowl 30-60 seconds until melted). Stir in vanilla until blended.

Pour nut butter mixture over cereal mixture, stirring until coated (use a wooden spoon at first, then get your hands in it. It will be sticky, but this way you can really coat everything. Just scrape off your hands when you're done). Press mixture firmly into an 8-inch square pan (lined with parchment paper) using a large square of wax paper (really tamp it down). Cool in pan on a wire rack and chill at least 30 minutes to help it set. Cut into 12 bars. (Wrap bars tightly in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator).

***Cocoa krispies with the coconut taste a lot like somoa Girl Scout cookies***