Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie Granola Bites

This chocolate recipe, Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie Granola Bites, leans on pure maple syrup or honey and vanilla extract. It makes 36 Bites and takes about 30 minutes.

• Yield 36 Bites
• Ready in 30 minutes
• Prep 20 minutes
• Cook 10 minutes

Ingredients

Granola Mixture

• 2 cups ( 200 g ) quick oats (or old-fashioned oats pulsed in a blender)
• 1 cup ( 114 g ) finely chopped almonds
• ¾ cup ( 64 g ) sweetened or unsweetened shredded coconut
• ½ cup ( 43 g ) natural, unsweeteened or Dutch-process cocoa powder
• ½ cup ( 57 g ) almond flour
• 1 cup ( 170 g ) mini chocolate chips

Syrup

• 1 ¼ cup ( 319 g ) creamy peanut butter
• ½ cup ( 113 g ) unsweetened applesauce
• ½ cup pure maple syrup or honey
• ¼ cup ( 57 g ) melted coconut oil , optional
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line half sheet pans with parchment paper; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the oats, almonds, coconut, cocoa, almond flour, and chocolate chips.
3. In a medium bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together the peanut butter, applesauce, maple syrup, coconut oil and vanilla. Microwave or heat on low until pourable (don't overheat). Let it cool if it's too warm or the chocolate chips will melt.
4. Pour the syrup mixture over the dry ingredients and mix until evenly combined.
5. Scoop the batter into 2-tablespoon sized spoonfuls (I use a medium #40 cookie scoop) and roll into balls. Lightly grease your hands with cooking spray if the granola mixture is too sticky.
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes just until the outside of the granola bites are set. Don't over bake or the middles might be dry.

Let the center settle before you cut it, or the slices will slump.