No-Oat Granola Bars aka "Birdfood Bites"
I've seen a whole bunch of granola bar recipes floating around the internet these days. After spotting several delicious chewy versions over at In Pursuit of More and Food Doodles and TexanErin, I couldn't get them out of my brain.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup raw buckwheat groats
- 1/2 cup raw millet
- 2 Tbsp chia seeds
- 1 Tbsp flaxseeds (or flax meal or more chia - I used sprouted flaxseed)
- 2-3 Tbsp coconut palm sugar (more or less to taste)
- 1/3 cup fruit-sweetened cranberries (or cherries, apricots, raisins, blueberries or even coconut)
- 2 scoops of good tasting vanilla protein powder* (I used Jay Robb's whey)
- pinch of sea salt (if using salted seed/nut butter, omit)
- 3-4 Tbsp milk (I used coconut) -- (if you prefer to use a liquid sweetener instead of coconut sugar, use 3 Tbsp and reduce milk to 1 Tbsp or until it holds together)
- 1/2 cup unsalted sunflower seed butter (or other nut butter - peanut butter or almond butter would be good!)
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Line a loaf pan with parchment OR use silicone molds for single serving treats. (I used a silicone brownie pop mold because I was feeling frisky and wanted a dome shape). Set aside.2. In a large mixing bowl, add dry ingredients and stir to combine (buckwheat, millet, chia, flax, coconut sugar, salt, cranberries and protein).
- Add in remaining ingredients (start with the smaller amount of milk and then add) and stir well to combine until sticky and holds together. Use your muscles here!
- Press firmly into molds or prepared pan to pack well to help mixture to stick together. Let chill in the refrigerator for an hour, cut into bars OR pop out of molds and enjoy!