Quinoa & Nut Butter Granola Bars

I believe store bought granola bars are completely unnecessary. It is so easy and so much more healthy to make your own. So I came up with a clean yet tasty recipe for homemade granola bars. These bars are gluten, dairy and refined sugar free, and provide you with a healthy snack in the middle of your day, enjoy!

What You'll Need: 

1/2 cup quinoa

1/4 cup natural maple syrup

1/3 cup honey

1/2 nut butter ( I typically use cashew butter)

1 cup dried cranberries

1 1/2 cups oats

1 cup quinoa flakes

1 cup toasted coconut

2/3 cup pumpkin seeds

1. In a pan toast quinoa, mixing often, until it begins to pop ( about 8 mins.).

2. In saucepan combine, maple syrup, and honey, over medium heat until smooth, about 5 mins. 

3. In a large bowl combine cranberries, oats, quinoa flakes, coconut, pumpkin seeds, and toasted quinoa. Stir in syrup mixture, place in parchment lined 13 x 9 inch baking pan, pressed down firmly.

4. Bake at 325 F until golden brown ( approx. 20 mins.) let cool completely, then cut into bars!