Dairy Free Snacks | Protein Granola Squares

Snack smarter and keep yourself and your family fueled with my dairy-free snacks. This Protein Granola Squares are not only perfectly sweet and delicious but also nutrient-rich. Loaded with nuts, rolled oats, and seeds, and enrobed in rich chocolate, these homemade granola bars will be an instant favorite you’ll feel good about giving your family.

School is back in session and it’s time to fill those lunch boxes. These granola bars are a great way to give your kids that sweet treat they crave but with ingredients you’ll love. Pack one of these chocolaty bites next to teriyaki chicken donburi with quinoa and you’ll be set for the day.

Jump to:

• Why you will love this recipe
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Tips
• FAQ
• Substitutions
• Tools
• Storage
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

Why you will love this recipe

• Easy Process - There is absolutely zero baking required to make these. The food processor does most of the work and you can easily melt the chocolate in the microwave. Get the kids into the kitchen and let them help you make these!
• Meal Prep - Make these on the weekend and enjoy them all week long. Because they need to be set up in the freezer they’re perfect for making ahead of time. 
• Nutrient Rich - The granola used in this recipe has seven different kinds of nuts and seeds making it high in antioxidants and protein. Peanut and almond butter add another boost of protein that will keep you feeling full and fueled longer. 
• Clean Ingredients - This recipe is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and free of refined sugars. Skip the store-bought granola bars with mystery ingredients you can’t even pronounce. 

Ingredients

• Yuj Granola - This granola is gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, and contains no artificial sugars and ingredients. It’s made with completely all-natural ingredients including rolled oats, walnuts, pecans, flaxseed, chia seeds, and other heart-healthy protein-rich ingredients. 
• Peanuts - This is combined with the granola to create the crust of the granola bar. It not only adds extra protein it helps bind everything together. 
• Maple Syrup - Adds a little sweetness to the granola crust that echoes the maple syrup in the granola. 
• Almond Butter - This gives additional protein to these bars. It’s used to help bind the crust together and also as a creamy layer in the middle. 
• Chocolate Chips - Is there anything more classic than granola and chocolate? This gives you that sweet crown on top. Pick a dairy-free chocolate to keep this completely dairy-free if you like. 
• Coconut Oil - Helps give the chocolate form a glossy shell over the top of the granola bars and give it that silky texture.

Instructions

• Add the granola, peanuts, maple syrup, and two tablespoons of almond butter to a food processor. Blend it until it’s completely smooth. It will be slightly sticky.
• Divide the granola mixture into a silicone mold, pressing firmly to even it out and form a crust.
• Drizzle softened almond butter over each crust.
• Allow the bars to freeze for 3-4 hours, up to overnight.
• Add the chocolate chips and coconut oil to a microwave. Working in twenty-second increments, microwave until melted, stirring after every interval.
• Carefully pour the melted chocolate over each square.
• Freeze for another 30 minutes before serving.

Tips

• If your almond butter seems a little hard to pour into the molds, briefly microwave it to loosen it up.
• If you don’t have a silicone mold you can line a baking dish with parchment paper and create one large bar. Once the entire thing is frozen you can cut it into individual squares. 
• Stir your almond butter well. You want to make sure that it’s not too oily.
• To make your peanuts and other nuts last longer keep them in the freezer. Because of the amount of oil in nuts they go bad quickly and freezing them will extend their life. 

FAQ

Can I make Protein Granola Squares nut-free?

Yes. Yuj Granola has a nut-free granola that is free of eight allergens. Replace the almond butter with either tahini or sunflower seed butter and the peanuts with your favorite seeds such as sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds. The texture will be slightly different. 

Substitutions

• If dairy isn’t a problem, feel free to use your favorite chocolate chips for this recipe. To keep this refined sugar free check the ingredient list.
• If you or someone in your family has a peanut allergy feel free to substitute the peanuts in this recipe for almonds. The texture will be slightly different but delicious.

Tools

Measuring Cups/Spoons

Food Processor

Silicone Molds

Microwave Safe Bowl

Spoon

Storage

These can be kept in the freezer for up to three months. Once they’re frozen in their molds you can transfer them to freezer-safe bags. Make sure to mark the date on the bags.

These can also be refrigerated. Keep them stored in an airtight container and they’ll last up to a week. 

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📖 Recipe