You guys made me do it. I’m blaming you.
After I posted the 5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Granola Bars with a simple mention of bacon, your encouragement (disgust?) and the thought of the deliciousness (grossness?) never left my mind.
And then Maria had to mention that today is Elvis’ birthday, so how could I not make them? I looked at it as honoring a legend.
Of course I had to add my own twist and throw in some chocolate because I have no self control. After all, I did just up the protein content of the bar, so what’s wrong with a little chocolate?
The Elvis Granola Bar
4 cups rolled oats
2 tablespoons chia seeds (these are optional, I just love the texture they give)
1/2 cup unsalted peanuts, chopped
1/2 cup chopped dried bananas
1/2 cup crumbled bacon
1/2 cup chocolate chips
3/4 cup natural peanut butter, melted
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons brown rice syrup (honey works too!)
Preheat oven to 350. In a bowl, combine oats, chia seeds, banana, peanuts, chocolate chips and bacon. Add melted peanut butter and honey (or syrup) and mix until moistened and combined. If you need more “glue.” add additional peanut butter or honey 1-2 tablespoons at a time until desired consistency is reached.
Press into a baking dish (I’ve used 8 x 8 and 9 x 13) and bake for 25 minutes. Let cool completely before cutting.
But now that I’ve gone and added meat to a granola bar, perhaps Mr. How Sweet will eat it?
I’m Jessica and this is where I share my stuff. You will find a balance of healthy recipes, comfort food and indulgent desserts.
Ok, you are amazing.
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I think since you added bacon, these are protein bars. Isn’t that how it works?
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Jessica — January 8th, 2011 @ 1:58 pm
Why yes! You are correct.
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Natalia - a side of simple — January 8th, 2011 @ 3:43 pm
My thoughts exactly! And it counts as breakfast, lunch, or dinner, too!
I will admit that I still haven’t ever tried the bacon, banana, pb combo. It looks so amazing but I can’t get my head around it. Call me lame, or scared, or umambitious…but I haven’t made THAT leap yet.
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Jessica — January 8th, 2011 @ 1:57 pm
I think you are in the majority. :)
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No you didn’t. LOL I’m hiding this post from Shane :)
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Shouldn’t this have bacon?
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Jessica — January 8th, 2011 @ 1:57 pm
It does!
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Matt — January 8th, 2011 @ 1:58 pm
I guess that tells you how out of it I am this morning. LOL. (I woke up 5 minutes ago)
Jessica — January 8th, 2011 @ 1:59 pm
LOL! Good morning sunshine. :)
I love it! Bacon in a granola bar.. YUM!
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Once again, I BOW DOWN TO YOU!!! :D
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haha you are so funny with your bacon! How much did you love these?
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Jessica — January 8th, 2011 @ 1:59 pm
They were pretty tasty. :)
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Gorgeous photos, awesome recipe!!
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BACON in a granola bar? You constantly amaze me.
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Here you go again!! Making me need to get on the elastic pants cuz I know I won’t be able to eat just one.
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I tried chocolate covered bacon once. It was very good! I think I might try these and see in anyone can figure out the “secret ingredient” hee hee
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I LOVE this! I bet my Mister would love these!
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What a perfect post-workout snack! :-P
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Homemade granola bars, even with bacon, are so much better for you than store bought. I’m assuming they are lower in cost too, or at least that is what I’m going to find out when I buy the ingredients today at the grocery store. Thanks for sharing, I usually don’t celebrate Elvis’ birthday, but today I might.
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ahaha I love your excuse for adding the chocolate. This granola bar is badass…I can’t see anyone disliking it!
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hahaha. Bacon? In a granola bar…pure craziness ;)
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Well, these look fabulous. And I’m an Elvis fan! Quick question, when you say natural peanut butter, do you mean the kind you grind yourself at the store or the natural versions Jiff and others make?
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Jessica — January 8th, 2011 @ 2:42 pm
Either should work! I would just watch with the true natural versions (that you grind yourself, or brands like Smuckers, etc) because the natural oil can separate and you may not need as much syrup at first.
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The King would be proud!
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Oh wow. I bet Elvis would sooo love these!
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I love this! I actually haven’t seen an Elvis granola bar before.
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Neat idea!!!!!!!!! I neeever would have thought of bacon in a granola bar! =D
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You are so funny- does it taste delicious?!
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I think I love you. And I’m a vegetarian! Maybe bacon will make a comeback in my life in 2011?
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Oh no you didn’t.
Really?
Thank you… thank you very much.
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I honestly don’t know how I would feel about bacon and banana together…but any recipe I have ever made of yours has never led me astray. I do know that.
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It’s my birthday too! My mom always jokes and says that she almost named me Elvisina. Those granola bars sound amazing, I am making bacon as we speak for my kids, they can’t get enough.
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oh my word. this is why i love reading…you totally went there!
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OMG, LOVE IT!!!!
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haha bacon in a granola bar sounds crazy, but i am intrigued!! i really want to try this!
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Genius. I need to find banana chips like that and I’m all set! I could eat that for lunch without feeling guilty! I LOVE your ideas!
-Amalia http://buttersweetmelody.wordpress.com
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This is EPIC! I made my own granola bars the other day and have a huge jar of brown rice syrup leftover – I need to make these!
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OHhh…this is dangerous!
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I can’t even explain how much I love this recipe. My brothers have a birthday coming up, and you’ve just given me a gift idea. They might be emailing you a huge thank you….fair warning.
Elvis was a god, if only because he pioneered this combo.
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Oh my….that it one mighty fine granola bar!
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Aww, Happy Birthday Elvis! He would’ve loved this special birthday breakfast treat. ;)
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Hahaha! I love that you are so creative and not afraid to try new things! Look at you go. :)
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Nothing is wrong with chocolate and quite frankly, you really can’t have to much. These look delicious! I love a good recipe for granola bars.
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There is a place in NYC called Peanut Butter & Co that makes all kinds of things with peanut butter, and they have an Elvis sandwich, and it is awesome! The King was definitely on to something.
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Your bacon always looks so awesome, mine NEVER gets that crisp and perfect.
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You crack me up. Bacon in granola bars. That is so you, and I love it :)
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Oh my, Jessica.You’re a baking genius. Also a bacon one.
Your 5 ingredient bars have me wanting to make more… I dont know if mine will have bacon in them tho!
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Hahahaha. Somehow, I new this was coming. It’s a characterizing creation :)
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Thank you Elvis, for inspiring Jessica to come up with this recipe.
Much Love,
Salah
:-)
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YES!!!!!!!!!!!! I knew you would do it :-)
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These are in the oven now! Can’t wait to try them!
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This would totally make my boys happy! Great way to honor a legend!
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Ummm maybe I’m crazy, but I think these sound REALLY good!
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those look soo good! we were watching some sort of bacon special on tv the other night – this one restaurant had 50/50 bacon/beef burgers that were then topped with bacon, bacon brownies, bacon milkshakes…it was crazy! i thought of you.
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Jessica — January 9th, 2011 @ 2:56 pm
Holy cow.
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Okay but you didn’t tell us all if it was any good!
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Jessica — January 9th, 2011 @ 2:56 pm
It was delish!
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