Homemade Protein Bars Recipe

I'm always on the hunt for healthy, tasty and easy to make snacks for the whole family.  Sometimes healthy and tasty don't always go hand in hand so when I find a recipe that not only makes my taste buds do a dance but also is on the healthier end of snacks, I'm pumped.  These protein bars have been on repeat for the last couple weeks and it's always a mad dash for the last one in the fridge!

Homemade Protein Bars
Ingredients

• 2 cups Rice Krispies
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1 cup coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup chia seeds
• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
• 1 cup peanut butter (can substitute sun or soy butter if you have a nut allergy)
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 8 teaspoons butter

Instructions

• In large bowl combine together the Rice Krispies, cranberries, pumpkin seeds and coconut.

• In a saucepan over medium-low heat, stir together peanut butter, butter, honey and brown sugar until they melt.  Stir continually.  Don't let them boil or the sugars will harden.

• Add peanut butter mixture/sauce to dry ingredients and stir until well combined.
• Add in the chia seeds and stir again.  I add the chia seeds here instead of at the beginning as they tend to settle at the bottom of the bowl and you have them all sitting at the bottom of the bars and not dispersed evenly.
• Press firmly into an 8x8 pan.

• Refrigerate until set.
• Cut into squares and keep in a ziploc bag or tupperware container.
• Enjoy!