White Chocolate Dipped Granola Bites

These right here are the best little accident. We're planning a road trip this weekend, and road trip = a full day of baking. Road trips in New Zealand are usually to pretty remote locations without a lot of food options so I end up doing a lot of baking and cooking before hand to bring with us. Sometimes I really miss cheap fast food on every corner, but we sure eat a lot better! So after we fell in love with these White Chocolate and Cranberry Granola Bars I thought I'd try my hand at adapting my favorite Peanut Butter Granola into granola bars. They tasted delicious, which was no surprise, but they were a little crunchier and thinner so when I tried to cut them into bars they broke into pieces. I just so happened to have leftover white chocolate chips in the pantry. And cue angels singing. These turned out way better than I could have imagined. I think these may just be our new favorite road trip snack or anytime snack!

4 cups old fashioned oats
3 Tbs wheat bran (optional)
3 Tbs ground flax seed or linseed (optional)
1/4 cup desiccated coconut (finely grated-optional)
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips
1 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbs butter
1/4 cup honey
3 Tbs maple syrup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups white chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350. Lay oats in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast for about 15 minutes, stirring half way through. Line a baking dish with parchment paper. While the oats are toasting, heat the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, vanilla, peanut butter and cinnamon. Bring it to a boil and continually stir for 2-3 minutes then remove from heat. Put the toasted oats in a large bowl, stir in the wheat bran, flax seed and coconut. Pour the peanut butter sauce over the oats and stir to coat evenly. Gently mix in the chcolate chips then scoop the mixture into the prepared dish. Press firmly and evenly, then refrigerate for at least an hour. Remove and break into bite sized chunks. Put white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds, stir then heat for another 30 seconds and stir. Repeat until melted and smooth. Dip each granola bite into chocolate then refrigerate until chocolate has hardened.