What Was That Masked Pan?

I'll bet you think you know what this is, don'tcha?

Huh?  You do?  You think it's a yummy chocolate cake, covered in chocolate frosting?

Nah.

Not it.

Nope!

It's HEALTHY!  and YUMMY!  and Oh so delicious!  :D

It's Katie's Granola Bars, with my special twist!

Now, I don't exactly know who Katie is . . . but I do know that her homemade chewy granola bars have been a perfect solution for my previous, once-upon-a-time addiction to Quaker Chewy Granola Bars:

Yes, I kicked them to the curb, in exchange for less preservatives, a healthier, more natural sweetener, and a more cost-effective treat.  ("Cuz, let's face it.  I could eat a case of QCGB without blinking an eye lash I like 'em so much!)

Here is the original recipe:

4 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 cup whole wheat flour, or spelt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup butter, softened*
1 cup honey

Add-ins: 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1 cup chopped walnuts, or try any combination of 2 cups or less of dried fruits, sunflower seeds, coconut, nuts…

With my personal twist(s):

Replace 1/2 cup of the butter with 1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Mix the butter, peanut butter and honey together first, then add the oatmeal, flour, baking soda, spices, and vanilla.  Then add the mix ins of your choice.  Put in a well buttered pan, then into a 325 degree oven for 15-20 minutes.  Cool on wire rack.

Just before the cooling process is complete, open up a jar of this:

and use it as a "frosting" over the entire pan of wholesome goodness!

Slice into bars, scoop one out and enjoy!  :D

It's almost too good to be true, isn't it?  The idea that whole oats, honey, raw pumpkins seeds, raisins, and unsweetened coconut could be better than the listed preserves on the back of the QCGB box?  :D