NO BAKE OAT NUT BARS

We got a little teaser of nice weather yesterday and while OMG it felt glorious, it feels cruel to know there is a snowstorm in our forecast this week. And no, not just a dusting. We’re talking multiple inches and maybe a FOOT?! What in the actual hell. GRRR.

While a really decadent brownie seems more appropriate to drown our sorrows with, I’m going to take the high road and have a healthy treat. After birthday month, which involved a week of vacation and lots of cake, I’m trying to clean things up a bit around here. I toyed with the idea of trying Whole 30 but you can’t have wine on that, and I’m not willing to go that far. So – healthy dessert/breakfast/snack instead of cake, it is!

Ingredients

For the oat nut bars:

1 cup natural peanut butter

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup honey

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cup old fashioned oats

3/4 cup ground flaxseed meal

1/4 cup chia seeds

1 cup chopped nuts

For the chocolate drizzle:

1/4 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips

1 teaspoon coconut oil

Instructions

Combine peanut butter, coconut oil, and honey in a small saucepan.

Melt over medium-low heat and stir frequently, until mixture is melted and smooth. This should just take a few minutes.

Stir in cinnamon and vanilla, mixing to combine.

In a large bowl, combine oats, flaxseed meal, chia seeds, and peanut butter mixture, stirring well to combine.

Fold in chopped nuts.

Press mixture into a parchment paper-lined 8x8" baking pan.

In a small bowl, combine chocolate chips and coconut oil.

Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring after each time, until melted.

Drizzle chocolate over bars.

Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, to allow bars to cool and chocolate to set.