Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Chocolate-chocolate chip granola bars, as promised! Also try the cinnamon-raisin granola bars. Again, these are designed to keep you going. Good fats, good protein and healthy carbs.

They are gluten, dairy, egg and soy free.

GLUTEN-FREE CHOCOLATE-CHOCOLATE CHIP GRANOLA BARS

This is a two-day project, but the actual time invested is minimal.

INGREDIENTS

List 1

3 cups rolled oats (I like Bob's Red Mill Organic Extra Thick)
1 1/2 cups blanched almonds or walnuts
1 1/2 cups sunflower seeds

List 2

3/4 cup maple syrup
3/4 cup coconut oil
2 tablespoons of cacao powder (I like TerrAmazon Organic Cacao Powder)
1/2 tsp vanilla

List 3

1/2 cup chocolate chips (I use Enjoy Life semi-sweet chocolate chips)
1/2 cup dried blueberries or cherries (optional)

Evening of day one - 

Take the ingredients on List 1, place in a large bowl and cover with water. Let sit on the counter overnight.

Day two -

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Drain and rinse the pre-soaked ingredients. Squeeze out the excess water. Place in a food processor. Add the ingredients from List 2 and give it a good whirl. If you like your granola bars more like cake, let the blender go longer. If you want some texture and crunch, leave the batter lumpy.
3. Add List 3 and mix by hand.
4. Spread in a thin layer on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 1 hour.
5. Remove from oven and cut into bars. Place back into oven and bake for another 30 minutes.
6. Cool on a wire rack.