Nut and Chocolate Granola Bars

I saw a recipe for homemade granola bars that I wanted to try

 

Ingredients:

• 170 gr (1 cup) pitted dates (should be soft)
• 60 gr (1/4 cup) honey (I made try with no honey next time if the dates are soft enough)
  
• 60 gr (1/4 cup) peanut butter 
• 100 gr (3/4 cup) chopped nuts (I used pecans and almonds, and toasted them lightly with the oats)
• 140 gr (1.5 cups)rolled oats (I used whatever oatmeal flakes I had)
• 50 gr (1/4 cup) semisweet chocolate chips 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

1. OPTIONAL: Toast oats and nuts in a 350-degree F oven for 8 to 10 minutes.
2. Line a 7 x 11" pan with plastic wrap or parchment paper.
   (You will press the bars into this, and the wrap will help you get them out.)
3. Place dates in a food processor, whirr until small bits remain and they form a ball. 
4. Transfer to a mixing bowl.
   (I used my small bowl on my stand mixer)
5. Place nuts and chips in the food processor, whirr for a couple of pulses to chop the nuts,
6. Add oats, nuts, and chocolate chips to the dates. 
7. Blend together on lowest speed until everything is well mixed.
8. Warm honey and peanut butter in a small bowl in microwave.
9. Add salt, and stir together.
10. Pour peanut butter mix ver dry ingredients, blend together.
    Note: My chocolate chip bits mostly melted into the mix.
    (If stirring by hand, you will want to stir quickly to evenly coat.) 
11. Transfer granola mix to the prepared pan.
12. Use a spatula to press the mix evenly across the pan. (Mine were about a 1/4" thick)
13. Let set up in the freezer for 15 minutes or so.
    
14. Remove and cut into 12 bars.
15. Store in an airtight container or bag in the fridge to keep fresh.  
     
    

Carole's Notes:

We both liked these! They are slightly sticky, soft but not crumbly, and have some crunch from the nuts.

The recipe is lightly adapted from https://minimalistbaker.com/chocolate-chip-almond-butter-granola-bars/