What dog doesn’t love peanut butter? Granola Peanut-Butter Crunches are a good way to satisfy that craving and add nutritious foods to the mix. Homemade peanut butter is great, but store-bought is also fine.
2 cups uncooked organic rolled oats (not instant)
¼ cup pumpkin seeds
¼ cup sunflower seeds
1 tbsp. flax seeds
¼ cup shredded or grated coconut
2 tbsp. (or more) chopped dried fruit, such as apricots, pears, apples, blueberries
1 tbsp. coconut oil
1 tbsp. honey
1 egg, slightly beaten
1¼ cups unsalted peanut butter
¾ cup almond milk or low-fat yogurt
Optional: 1 tsp. turmeric
Substitutions: Grated veggies such as carrots or zucchini can be used instead of the fruit.
Preheat oven to 325°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat, or butter and dust with flour.
Grind all the seeds slightly in a food processor or blender. Combine the dry ingredients in a medium-size bowl. Heat the coconut oil and honey long enough to soften. Beat an egg in a small bowl. Put the peanut butter, best at room temperature, into a food processor, add the almond milk or yogurt and process; add the egg, oil and honey, process again.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry, mixing with a wooden spoon. The mixture should hold together well enough to be easily shaped into balls; if it seems too wet, add some whole-wheat flour. Shape into 1½-inch balls and place on the baking sheet; they can be spaced closely. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown.
(Optional: halfway through, turn each granola ball over so they brown evenly.) Cool on a rack, then store in an airtight jar. These treats can also be frozen.
Makes about 3 dozen