Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Clusters

Shhh... don't tell Liv and her friends, but I made them chocolate clusters from their favorite Peanut Butter Granola for last weekend's dance competition.  Protein packed with peanut butter and filled with rolled oats, these crunchy clusters were the perfect snack to fuel them during those quick changes before they had to run back on stage.

Well, let me rephrase.  They would have been the perfect snack... if I hadn't eaten them all in the days before the event.

I had good intentions, really I did.  I prepped on Friday making the Peanut Butter Granola.  Low in fat and nutritionally boosted with egg whites and ground flax meal, the girls never really know that it's good for them and always ask for more.

Going for something special, I coated the granola with melted dark chocolate and the spread it out to set.

Unfortunately (or fortunately?)  Liv was at dance rehearsals, and I thought I should try one of the clusters.  You know, just to make sure it tasted OK.  So I did.  And then I did again, and then I did almost every time I walked by.

Saturday came, and luckily I still had plenty of the clusters to pack for our dance event on Sunday.  But, as the day wore on, I may have eaten more than my fair share.

Come Sunday morning  as I packed our food for the day, I realized I really didn't have enough of the clusters left to share, so I left the few remaining pieces home.  On Monday I finished them off realizing I hadn't shared them with anyone.

Hence, I have no recommendations from any of the dance girls or my fellow dance moms.  No one in my family had a try, and there's none left for for anyone to taste.  I'm thinking I might make more for them.  I only hope they actually get some this time...

Peanut Butter Granola Clusters
Crunchy, peanut buttery and chocolaty... and oh so addicting.  I justified eating them with their nutritional ingredients, however the chocolate and sugar contents just might put them into the dessert category.

Peanut Butter Granola

1 batch Peanut Butter Granola (Click for recipe)

1 1/4 cup chopped chocolate (I prefer dark)

Place prepared and cooled granola into a large bowl.  

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler over low heat on the stove (or alternatively use the microwave if that is your preference).

Pour the melted chocolate over the granola and stir to coat.

Line a baking sheet with waxed paper and pour the chocolate coated granola onto the paper.  With a spoon or spatula, spread the granola into about a 1/2-inch layer and allow to set.  Break the clusters in to pieces and enjoy.  Don't forget to share...