We Make These ALL the Time – Pretty Darn Good – from Forks over Knives – The Cookbook by Del Stroufe – Makes 8 bars
If you don’t have an 8×8 inch baking pan, you could use a slightly larger rectangular pan and make 1.5 times the recipe. Whatever works is good!
1/2 c. peanut butter – smooth or chunky
1/4 c. 100% pure maple syrup
1/4 c. brown rice syrup
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 c. whole rolled oats (not quick cooking)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350° F. Pam an 8×8 inch baking pan to keep bars from sticking. Optionally, you could use parchment paper.
Mix together peanut butter, syrups. Gently heat over low heat (or use microwave gently), whisking with fork, just until it’s warm enough for ingredients to incorporate and become smooth.
Remove from heat. When it’s warm but not hot, mix in vanilla, add dry ingredients and mix well.
Wet your hands and press mixture firmly into pan. Pack as tightly as you can. Bake 18 minutes or until sides are lightly browned.
Remove pan from oven and let cool about 10 minutes. Remove bars by picking up corners of paper. Transfer to rack to cool completely. Use an 8-inch knife to slide bars into 8 rectangles. Press down. Sawing makes bars crumble. Cooling really helps – don’t be impatient!