Chewy Whole-Grain Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
For a gluten-free option, feel free to substitute gluten-free brown rice cereal for the Uncle Sam’s. If oats are okay for you, you can even use half gluten-free oats and half brown rice cereal.
Author:
Recipe type: Snack
Cuisine: American
Serves: Makes 9 to 12 whole grain cereal squares or bars
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons flax seeds
  • 2 cups Uncle Sam’s original whole grain cereal
  • ¾ cup shredded unsweetened coconut
  • ⅓ to ½ cup semi-sweet or dark dairy-free chocolate chips
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup honey, maple syrup, or brown rice syrup (I use honey)
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 350ºF and generously grease an 8×8-inch baking pan (I use glass).
  2. Grind the flax seeds into a powder in a spice / coffee grinder (about 30 seconds). In a mixing bowl, stir together the ground flaxseed, cereal, coconut, chocolate chips, and salt. Pour the liquid sweetener over top, and gently stir to incorporate everything.
  3. Gently press the mixture evenly into your pan. I use a small piece of plastic wrap between my hands and the mixture as I press to keep it from sticking to my fingers.
  4. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. I bake for the full 20 minutes, and it browns a bit around the edges, but I like this.
  5. Place the pan on a wire rack and let it cool almost completely. Either cut the bars in the pan, or turn the mixture out onto a cutting board and cut into squares or bars. The mixture firms up quite a bit as it cools, so don’t cut into them too soon, or they will crumble.
  6. If you store them in the refrigerator, they firm up quite a bit, but I like them this way. To keep them soft and chewy, store them in a sealed container at room temperature. They should keep for up to 1 week.
Recipe by Go Dairy Free at https://www.godairyfree.org/recipes/chewy-whole-grain-chocolate-chip-granola-bars