Dark Chocolate Pistachio Granola Bars Food

DARK CHOCOLATE PISTACHIO GRANOLA BARS

Steps:

• Line an 8 x 8 pan with parchment paper or foil with an overhang for easy removal. Don't spray with cooking spray as it makes these greasy. Set aside.
• In a small blender jar (I use the Twister jar for Blendtec) or a food processor, pulse the pitted dates to create a very thick and sticky paste. (If your dates aren't moist, soak in warm water and then drain and dry very well)
• Scoop out the date paste and place in a bowl.
• Slightly warm up the peanut butter and maple syrup in the microwave (like 20 seconds) and stir into the date paste. Stir well.
• Add in the vanilla extract.
• Stir in the quick oats and the old fashioned oats.
• Add in the miniature chocolate chips and chopped pistachios
• Knead with your hands to get it all well mixed.
• Press into the prepared 8 x 8 baking pan and set aside while assembling the melted chocolate.
• In a large microwave safe bowl combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil (measured when the oil is in a hardened state).
• Microwave in bursts of 15 seconds stirring in between each burst for 15 seconds until melted.
• Pour evenly over the bars and tip the pan around to move the chocolate in an even layer on top.
• Place in the fridge (covered) until the chocolate is completely set.
• Remove from the pan and cut into bars.
• Store in the fridge, covered.

DARK CHOCOLATE GRANOLA BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Combine first 7 ingredients in a large bowl.
• Combine next 4 ingredients in another bowl; add to sugar ingredients.
• Add remaining ingredients.
• Press into 13x9-inch baking pan coated with cooking spray.
• Bake 18-20 minutes.
• Score surface with shallow cuts to make bars.
• Cool on wire rack then finish cutting into bars.