Crunchy Oat, Almond, Cashew & Pebbles Granola Bars

Now that Maisie can’t eat things with wheat, egg whites or milk because of her food allergies I’ve been on the search to make convenience type foods that she can easily grab for breakfast or for a snack.  One of Maisie’s go-to foods has always been granola bars but after spending hours reading ingredient labels it seems that they all contain ingredients that she can’t have, unless I want to spend over $1 per bar and I’m just not willing to spend that much on something I can make myself.  I read dozens of recipes online and then thought about what Maisie would enjoy in a snack bar and these bars are my first attempt. 

These bars are really delicious and crunchy and all the adults loved them…and I’ve snacked on way too many.  At first Maisie wasn’t totally thrilled with them but by the second one they grew on her and then she started snacking on them and enjoying them too.  I think that Maisie is used to a chewier less crispy bar so the next batch I’ll add some rice crisps to lighten them up somewhat and hopefully we’ll have a winning recipe because granola bars are a huge snack for Maisie both at school and at the gym so we need to find that winning recipe for my girl.  I would though make these again because they’re really good and a great grab and stick in my purse snack on the go.

I used a 9-by-13-inch Slice Solutions Pan which worked wonderfully, making 18 perfect bars.

Crunchy Oat, Almond, Cashew & Pebbles Granola Bars

2 1/2 cups Oats
1/2 cup Cocoa Pebbles
1/2 cup Fruity Pebbles
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1/2 cup Earth Balance Buttery Spread, melted
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup salted cashews
1/4 cup Honey
1/2 tsp. Vanilla

Preheat oven to 350F. In a large bowl mix all of the ingredients together until combined. Press into a 9x13-inch pan lined with foil and then press divider insert through the mixture and leave in place.   Bake 18-20 minutes.  Remove from oven and immediately remove the divider insert or if not using a divider, cool for 10 minutes and score into bars. Let it set completely and then cut into bars.  Peel the foil from the bars and then wrap the bars individually so that they’re an easy to grab snack on the go.

Enjoy!