Sesame-Peanut Bars

Recipe from http://www.bonappetit.com

Husband-Tested in Alice’s Kitchen

Makes 16 bars

Wow!!!  Make these terrific tasty seed-and-nut packed energy bars and include them in your lunchbox.  These are now in our regular snack rotation.  I think replacing the peanuts and peanut butter with almonds and almond butter would make a nice variation.

½ Tablespoon unsalted butter, melted (for buttering the pan)

1¼ cups white and/or black sesame seeds

¾ cup unsweetened shredded coconut

¼ cup unsalted, roasted peanuts

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ cup honey

2 Tablespoons peanut butter

¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Butter an 8-inch by 8-inch baking pan with the melted butter.  Line the pan with parchment paper, leaving a generous overhang on all sides.  (This will make removing the bars much easier.) 

In a large bowl, combine the sesame seeds, the coconut, the peanuts and the kosher salt.

In a small bowl, mix the honey, peanut butter and vanilla.  (Heating the honey mixture for a few seconds in the microwave or on top of the stove will make mixing much easier.)

Add the honey mixture to the seed/nut mixture and mix well. 

Scrape the mixture into the prepared baking dish.  Press firmly into an even layer. (Spray the bottom of a measuring cup with cooking spray and use it to press the mixture evenly in the pan.)

Bake at 350 F until golden brown around the edges, 20-25 minutes.

Transfer to a wire rack and let cool until firm, 30-40 minutes more. 

Lift out of the baking dish (if it starts to crumble, let cool a bit longer) and cut into 16 bars.

Let the bars cool completely. 

Bars can be made 3 days in advance.  Store tightly wrapped at room temperature.