Nutty, Maple Granola Bars

Try this yummy treat today! Good snack in the morning, afternoon, or evening! Oh, it is also gluten-free, dairy-free, legume-free, and grain-free BUT SO DELICIOUS!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 cup sunflower seed butter (Maranatha brand has the most protein without any added sweeteners - SO GOOD!)
• 1 cup coconut butter (yes, coconut butter, NOT coconut oil. Coconut butter is just smooth, creamy blended coconut)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• pinch of salt
• 1 cup sliced almonds
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup dried goji berries (some Kroger stores now sell these. If not, find them at Whole Foods. *INTERESTING FACT: Goji berries are one of the healthiest fruits as they contain all essential amino acids and they have the highest protein content of any fruit. They are also very high in Vitamin C)

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat oven to 300F and spray a 9"x9" pan with Pam.
• Melt the maple syrup, coconut oil, sunflower seed butter, and coconut butter in a large pot over medium heat on the stove. Stir until smooth and combined.
• Remove from heat and stir in cinnamon, vanilla, and salt.
• Combine all the dry ingredients (almonds, pecans, goji berries) and spoon into the baking pan. Spread the mixture into an even layer.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes.
• Remove and let cool.
• Slice into squares AND THEN BAKE AGAIN at 300F for 7-10 minutes. This gets them extra crispy.
• Remove from oven, let cool, and then ENJOY!

OTHER OPTIONS:

• Instead of sunflower seed butter try another nut butter
• Instead, or in addition, to goji berries try: chocolate chips, raisins, cacao nibs
• Use shredded coconut instead of coconut butter

**recipe adapted from HERE.