Toasted Quinoa Coconut Granola Bars

Healthy AND delicious... say what!?! The sweeter side of quinoa does not disappoint in this recipe. So good, your whole family will love them!! 

1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed & dried

1 cup oats

1/2 cups coconut

1/2 cup nuts, I like almonds but use whatever you like

1/2 cup dried fruit, I love craisins for this recipe!

1 tbsp. flax seeds

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup peanut butter

3/4 cup honey

1 tbsp coconut oil, vegetable or canola will also work

1 tbsp brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a ceramic or glass 9X13 inch baking dish. Spread oats and quinoa on a cookie sheet and toast in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. Return mixture to a large bowl and add coconut, nuts, and dried fruit. In a medium saucepan, combine salt, peanut butter, honey, oil, and brown sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat and immediately remove from heat. Pour over oats mixture and combine until dry ingredients are evenly coated. Pour into baking dish. Press mixture down into pan.Bake for 20 minutes. Cool completely and then cut and serve.

For those of you who would like to dip the bottoms or drizzle the tops with chocolate~

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or chocolate melting chips

1 tbsp oil

Melt in the microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring until melted. Cut the granola bars, and dip each one in the chocolate, and let sit on a piece of parchment paper until it hardens.

 HAPPY BAKING!!