PB&J Oat Bars

As I was eating one of these delicious Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Oat Bars my roommate made it dawned on me that if I changed the recipe a bit these could be a pretty healthy breakfast option! One of these bars is guaranteed to keep you full throughout the morning thanks to the fiber (from the oats and chia seeds) and protein in the peanut butter. The chia seeds also add a decent serving of Omega 3s and the coconut palm sugar is a natural low glycemic sweetener (you can read more about its benefits here). I also subbed out the canola oil-containing Earth Balance (read here about canola oil) for Organic Coconut Butter. Coconut boosts your immune system and helps burn body fat!

I am no master baker but I can tell you Forgiving Martha's recipe blog is about as good as it gets! She has some incredibly delicious recipes that will have you drooling (I would know, I live with her and get to eat her delicious creations often!) So after you make these breakfast bars I suggest you go and make those peanut butter chocolate bars for dessert

They are dairy free, gluten free, soy free and free of refined sugars! Did I mention they taste so delicious you won't even know that they are healthy?

PB&J Oat Bars

What you need (please use all organic ingredients if possible):

• 1 cup of natural, organic peanut butter
• 1/4 cup of Coconut Butter
• 3 large eggs (or chia seed/flax seed eggs or egg replacer)
• 1 1/2 cup organic coconut sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 2 cups gluten-free oat flour (or gluten free old fashioned oats finely ground in Vitamix/blender)
• 1 cup gluten-free old fashioned oats
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 cup of sliced organic strawberries
• 3 tablespoons of Chia Seeds

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9"X11" baking pan and coat with coconut oil
2. Mix together peanut butter and coconut butter in mixer.  Add eggs, vanilla and sugar.
3. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients (oat flour, oats, baking soda and powder and salt).
4. Add the dry mixture to the wet and mix until combined.
5. Add in the sliced strawberries, careful not to mix too hard.
6. Add in chia seeds and mix gently by hand with a fork.
7. Pour the dough in the pan, making sure to distribute evenly. Make sure you spread out the mixture pretty evenly because if it is too thick going into the oven, it may not bake all the way through
8. Bake for 15-20 minutes until lightly browned. (You may have to bake longer depending on how thick you make your bars so check the middle with a fork before taking out of the oven)