Almond, pumpkin seed & peanut butter granola bars

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After St. Patrick’s Day, these quinoa and almond granola bars are exactly what we all need to be eating. To be honest, I didn’t really veer off diet much yesterday. No green beer was consumed, I only partook in one square of chocolate and we had a really healthy, low-fat salad for dinner.

Easy healthy granola bars

Does this mean I’m getting old? As I walked past a few Irish pubs on my way home from work yesterday, I was actually GLAD I wasn’t out. I was glad that in 20 minutes I would be in yoga pants with a big glass of wine snuggling with my dog (who I sadly dyed green 6 years ago for St. Pats).

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I think that makes me old. But I’d much rather be old than sit in a crowded bar drinking green dyed Miller Lite while some guy who is 0.5% irish tries to pinch me because I’m not wearing green. Yes, that has happened and yes I promptly walked away from him. If that happened today, I most likely would have thrown that cheap beer in his face, but alas.

Quinoa granola bars

Now that I think about it, there aren’t really many holidays where I’d rather be stuffed in a bar with a bunch of strangers than at home with my loved ones. Maybe I am getting old, but I’m a firm believer in going to bed at 10, wearing yoga pants as much of the day as possible and drinking good craft beer. I’m a huge fan of long brunches, Snapped marathons, comfortable shoes and big cozy blankets.

Easy pumpkin seed and almond granola bars

And If that’s being old, well shoot, I don’t mind it one bit. Bring on the walkers, canes and early bird dinners, baby!

Almond, pumpkin seed & peanut butter granola bars

Granola bars with almond

CLICK HERE FOR THE PRINTABLE VERSION OF THIS RECIPE!

Yields about 14.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Chill time: 3 hours
Total time: 3 1/2 hours

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups old-fashioned oats
  • 2/3 cup chopped roasted almonds
  • 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
  • 1/3 cup flaxseeds
  • 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa (I used Bob’s Red Mill)
  • 1/4 cup chia seeds
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter (I used creamy Jif)
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Add the oats and pumpkin seeds, spread evenly over the parchment paper. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until fragrant and toasted.
  2. Once toasted, remove from the pan and place in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the quinoa, flaxseeds, almonds and chia seeds.
  3. In another bowl, whisk the butter, peanut butter, syrup and honey together. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir to combine.
  4. Line a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Press the mixture into the foil. Place in the fridge and chill for about 2-3 hours. Cut into bars and enjoy!

Nutritional information per bar:

Calories: 192
Fat: 8 grams
Carbohydrates: 25 grams
Fiber: 3.25 grams
Protein: 5.5 grams
Weight Watchers Points: 5

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Comments

  1. Wednesday, March 18th, 2015
    im on the same page as when it comes to wine, comfy blankets, and going to bed as early as 9 pm sometimes..well, if that means we are getting old then heck yes and i love it. i had a greek salad for dinner, thats the greenest i got :)
  2. Posted by Erin@WellPlated on
    Thursday, March 19th, 2015
    Although I ventured out for a black and tan (I'm Irish so one felt mandatory), I was home and in my yoga pants by 10:30 p.m. The ideal night out! All I needed was one of these yummy bars to make it perfect :)
  3. Posted by Angie on
    Thursday, March 19th, 2015
    I'm with you, cheap beer and obnoxious losers bothering me isn't my idea of a good time either. Never has been. I much rather munch on these granola bars with some wine after dinner, yum!
  4. Posted by Marjory @ Dinner-Mom on
    Thursday, March 19th, 2015
    So much nutty, seedy goodness! I need to tuck these in my girls' lunchboxes. They would love them!
  5. Posted by The Food Hunter on
    Thursday, March 19th, 2015
    I can't wait to try this
  6. Posted by christine on
    Thursday, March 19th, 2015
    These sound so good. I've been eating something similar that Kashi puts out, but these look much better!
  7. Thursday, March 19th, 2015
    These sound so healthy and delicious!
  8. Thursday, March 19th, 2015
    We didn't go out for St. Patty's day either! Maybe I'm old too LOL
    Love the granola bars!
  9. Friday, March 20th, 2015
    I'll happily curl up in my yoga pants under a comfy blanket with a big glass of wine rather than deal with a crowded bar and being forced to drink technicolor beer. Love all the fiber in these granola bars. I hear it keeps you regular!
  10. Friday, March 20th, 2015
    These look amazing. I love that you used quinoa in them too. YUM!
  11. Posted by Susan on
    Monday, March 23rd, 2015
    Uh, I'm totally with you on not wanting to be at a bar with people on St. Patrikck's Day. I work in Times Square I didn't leave my office all day but got to "enjoy" it all through the noise outside. It was enough. My rant is over though, these bars look absolutely delicious!