Chewy Goodness -Nut Free For School!

Peanut free? Challenge accepted!
     If you've read my first blog post on peanut butter cookies it is quite apparent that I have no aversion to peanuts, in fact, I love peanut butter so much I once went a whole month eating nothing but PB&J sandwiches for lunch.
     Unfortunately, peanut butter is not always an option. Anyone who has a peanut allergy, or knows someone with a peanut allergy, has to be exceedingly careful of what they make and eat. Since the recipe for Goody Two Chews is my favourite snack food recipe, I'm not about to give it up - but that doesn't mean I won't change it.
     I've removed the peanut butter, added more fruit, and a little extra honey and voilà- they're better than they were before! 

Goody Two Chews - Peanut Free!

Ingredients

1/2 cup honey or maple syrup*

2 egg whites

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

2 ½ cups granola

¾ cup dried cranberries

¼ cup raisins

¼ cup chopped dried apricots**

Method

            Preheat oven to 250F. Beat honey/maple syrup, egg whites and pumpkin pie spice until smooth. Stir in granola, cranberries, raisins and apricots. Divide into muffin tins and pack down softly. Bake for 45 minutes. Cool completely before removing from pan.

*I really like buckwheat honey in this recipe

**You can add any type of dried fruit you like, you just have to remember that adding too much fruit may make a super crumbly granola bar.

Side note: looking for more of a muffin than a granola bar? Try adding apple sauce! It tastes delicious and is less likely to crumble- but be careful, too much apple sauce will make the ‘muffin’ soggy. I recommend adding about ¼ - ½ cup of apple sauce.