Chocolate/Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Ingredients:

4 tbsp. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter or coconut oil
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar or brown rice syrup
1/4 cup honey
2 cups plain granola
1 cup rice cereal (Rice Krispies, etc.)
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup peanut butter chips

Process:

Line two 9×5 loaf pans or one 11×7 inch baking pan (see tip #4 above if you want to use 9×13) with foil or parchment. Lightly butter or spray the foil.

Combine butter, honey and brown sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the butter is melted.

Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat to medium-low and simmer until the sugar is dissolved, 2 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat.

Add the granola and rice cereal into the saucepan and fold them into the sauce until evenly coated.

Spread the mixture into the prepared pans and press firmly with a spatula to evenly fill. Sprinkle the chocolate and peanut butter chips onto the top of the granola and gently press them down with the spatula.

Let sit for 15-20 minutes or until mostly cooled and set*; lift out of the pan and cut into bars.

Recipe Note:

If the bars are sticky but not quite holding together, place them in the fridge to harden for 10-15 minutes. I’ve noticed that on very warm days, the bars don’t always harden at room temperature, this is especially true if you use brown rice syrup.

Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies

Ingredients:

Cookie:

1 cup unsalted butter

¾ cup dark brown sugar

½ cup sugar

1 tbsp molasses

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1 ½ cups flour

½ tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

⅛ tsp cinnamon

1 ½ cups quick oats

Cream Filling:

2 tsp very hot water

¼ tsp salt

1 (7 oz.) jar marshmallow cream

½ cup shortening

⅓ cup powdered sugar

½ tsp vanilla

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350° and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. In the bowl of your stand mixer, cream the butter, sugars, molasses, vanilla, and eggs.
3. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture and stir to combine; mix in the oats.
5. Drop tablespoon sized scoops onto the cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes, until just starting to brown around the edges. Be careful not to overbake them; they will look moist.
6. While the cookies are baking, in a small bowl, dissolve the salt in the hot water and allow to cool to room temperature.
7. Combine the marshmallow cream, shortening, powdered sugar, and vanilla and mix on high until fluffy.
8. Add the salt water and mix well.
9. Spread the filling onto the flat side of one cookie and top with another. There you have the most delicious sandwich cookie known to man.