Gluten Free Granola Bars

As a gluten free person, I feel like my life revolves around snacks.  That makes these gluten free granola bars a staple in my kitchen.  The addition of CBD infused honey is an added bonus here, but can easily be replaced with regular honey if you don't want to use CBD. These gluten free granola bars are not only easy to make but they can also be customized with your favorite mix-ins to create a treat the whole family will enjoy!

If you're looking for more gluten free snack ideas, check out my pumpkin granola bars or my yummy chocolate banana granola.

Ingredients

• Gluten Free Oats & Oat Flour - If you're gluten free, it is important to use certified gluten free oats here.  I normally use Bob's Red Mill brand.  While they also sell oat flour, this recipe doesn't require a finely milled flour.  I usually just throw some oats in the food processor and make my own. 
• Puffed Rice Cereal - Again you want to make sure you're using a certified gluten free cereal as some contain malted barley.  The puffed rice cereal is going to give a little extra light texture to the bars. 
• Brown Sugar - A little sugar is necessary to create the stickiness that holds the bars together.  However, if you find this a little too sweet, you can definitely reduce the amount to 1 or 2 tablespoon without much trouble.  I have also made this recipe with coconut sugar and had great results.  If you want your bars to come out more on the crunchy side, use white sugar here. 
• Coconut Oil - You need an oil that is solid at room temperature, so there isn't a really good substitution here.  Use refined coconut oil if you are worried about coconut flavor.   
• Honey - Honey is a key ingredient in these granola bars.  It provides the sticky element that holds everything together, plus it's delicious!  I use Colorado Hemp Honey, which contains CBD.  You can substitute regular honey with the same results.
• Baking Soda - Since we aren't looking for any leavening in these bars, why would we use baking soda?  Well, in this case we mainly included it for the browning properties.  It will provide a little leavening, since baking soda will react with honey, but we will smoosh all of that out when we press the cooked bars down. 
• Salt & Vanilla - Just gives balance to the flavors.
• Mix-ins - Go crazy here with whatever your heart desires.  I used chopped pistachios, dried cherries and cranberries.  

Substitutions & Variations

• Not Gluten Free - use regular rolled oats and puffed rice cereal in the same measure.
• Make it Vegan - Replace honey with an equal amount of maple syrup.
• Customize the Flavors - chocolate chips, peanuts, raisins with a little cinnamon, dried blueberries with lemon zest. Just aim for 1 ¼ cup to 1 ½ cup of total mix ins.

How do you make homemade granola bars?

Homemade granola bars are so easy to make.  It's a great recipe to make with kids. 

STEP 1: Combine all of the dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.

STEP 2: Add the coconut oil, honey and vanilla and stir until everything is coated.

STEP 3: Pour the granola mixture into a lined 9x9 baking pan.

STEP 4: Spread the granola into an even layer.

STEP 5: Use a smaller pan, or a measuring cup with a flat bottom, to press the granola into a tight layer.

STEP 6: Bake the bars. As soon as you remove them from the oven, press them down tightly again and cut them. Then allow to cool before removing from the pan.

Why do you use CBD honey in this recipe?

Honey on it's own has great health benefits: anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-fungal and antioxidants, plus it is known to help with allergies which I have plenty of.  Adding CBD to the equation just takes things to the next level.  CBD also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, but is known to help with anxiety, pain, sleep and more.  Overall it has a calming effect on me and who can't use a little more calm in the stresses of day to day life.