Honey Almond Cacao Nib Granola Bar [no bake]

Four days later and with about 3 bars left of my first homemade granola bar, I made them again. This time- Honey Almond Cacao Nib! These bars are customize-able in infinity ways to suit you. I love how they are packed with fiber and protein and kept me away from snacking on junks.

For the most part, these granola bar are healthy.. but what?!?!? 20-22g of sugar PER BAR?!?!?! They don't taste excessively sweet at all.

In order to stay healthy, the American Heart Association recommends no more than six teaspoons, or about 25 grams, of added sugars per day for women, and nine teaspoons, or about 36 grams, for men.

I guess the high sugar content can be somewhat overlooked because these bars stopped my cravings for more sweets. I was satiated and sweetly contented. My goal is to eventually get to a bar that is around 8g of sugar. That way, I can eat more than 1 a day.. 

Granola Bar

recipe adapted from Minimalist Baker

makes one 8x8 pan (about 12 bars)

Base:

1 1/2 cups rolled oats, roasted

1 cup packed medjool dates, pitted (10 pieces)

1/4 cup honey

Variables:
18g coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup raw almond pieces, roasted

1/4 cup cacao nibs

1/4 cup coconut flakes, roasted

2 tbsp chia seeds

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Toast oats, almonds and coconut chips.

Chia seeds and cacao nibs.

Honey and cinnamon.

Pulse the pitted dates.

Sticky soft dough ball like.

Combine everything in a bowl.

Mix mix mix thoroughly.

For written step by step, click here.

LET's COMPARE.

Left: last time; Right: this time.

This is the same general recipe as last time EXCEPT

• 10 pieces of dates vs 13 pieces last time
• 1 cup is roughly 8-9 dates, but mine are on the small side
• honey in place of maple syrup
• 18g melted coconut oil in place of peanut butter
• almonds in place of pecans
• cacao nibs in place of pumpkin seeds
• extra 1/2tsp of cinnamon 

The number of dates is slightly decreased and peanut butter is omitted all together. This bought the sugar down from 22g to 20g per bar. The result of all the changes in the liquid portion made the bar a bit more crumbly and less sticky. I prefer this change.

Last time: gooey and sticky

This time: noticeably less sticky, held together nicely.

Next time,

• Decrease to 8 pieces of dates
• Omit honey and put back 1/4 cup nut butter
• Try a bake version for crunchy texture

Taste: 5 stars out of 5

Sweetness is just right to taste but would like to bring it down to 8g on the nutritional. 

Texture: 5 stars out of 5

Great balance of chewy and crunchy.