Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Cookies

It’s official… Fall is just around the corner. The kiddos are in school, the weather is starting to crisp… Baking season is getting ready to gear-up! I know that when my kiddos arrive home after a long day at school they are famished. Short of providing a meal for them right as they walk through the door, which on most days is a challenge, the practically inhale everything in sight! I’ve smartened up and have come up with a simple go-to recipe for a scrumptious after school snack with a bit of protein staying power tucked inside! Here are my Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Cookies…

With these little goodies ready to hand out right as the kiddos walk in the door, that need to eat whatever isn’t nailed down is taken care of. They get a quick little snack that has some hidden protein and they can make it through to dinner. My secret…

Nature Valley™ Protein Crunchy Granola! Did you know that Nature Valley™ Protein Crunchy Granola packs a whopping 10 grams of protein in each 1/2 cup serving?! Yep… That’s a whole lot of quick protein that you can grab on the go. What’s so cool is that you can disguise all that protein in a treat like these Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Cookies. Your kiddos will never know that you are helping them get to their next meal without having a case of hungry tummy in-between!

These cookies are soft and chewy with that lovely granola crunch baked right it that is just such a treat. Here’s how to make them…

Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Cookies Recipe

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 sticks butter – room temperature

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 bag of Nature Valley™ Crunchy Granola – Peanut Butter ‘N Dark Chocolate (12.7 oz.)

1 cup chocolate chips

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. Whisk together and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, add room temperature butter, sugar and brown sugar and mix until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and two eggs, one at a time.

Slowly add your flour, baking soda and salt mixture. Once that is incorporated, add your granola and chocolate chips and mix just until combined.

Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill. Once lightly chilled, scoop into one ounce balls and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Place in a 350˚ oven for 11-12 minutes or until lightly brown. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.

This yields about 24 cookies. Store in an air tight container. Better yet… Mix up a batch and place the dough in a large air tight container in the refrigerator or freezer and only bake as many cookies that you need at a time. It’s the perfect after school snack!

For more ideas on how you can add more protein in your diet with Nature Valley™ Crunchy Protein Granola, you can find all kinds of ideas on their Facebook or Twitter page. The folks at Nature Valley™ would like to help you add more protein into YOUR diet with this coupon (link to be added once brand approves) for Nature Valley™ Crunchy Protein Granola!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Nature Valley Protein Granola via Burst Media. The opinions and text are all mine.