Hikers Bars

Caloric, filling, and tasty bars for the trail. These bars give a flavourful and fulling treat along a hiking or cycling trail. The recipe is from Ben Branch of AT&T Bell Labs at Columbus.

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Serves: 24-48
• Yields: 24-48 bars

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup chunky peanut butter
• 1⁄3 cup butter
• 2  medium bananas, cut up
• 1⁄2 cup molasses
• 1  cup sugar
• 2  teaspoons vanilla
• 4  large eggs (well beaten)
• 1  teaspoon cinnamon
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ginger
• 2⁄3 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 1⁄3 cups white flour
• 4  cups  kellogg  Special K cereal, crushed
• 1  teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 6  ounces chocolate chips
• 1  cup salted peanuts, chopped
• 6 -8  ounces dates, chopped

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In a large bowl: cream together peanut butter and butter.
3. Mix in bananas, molasses, sugar, and vanilla.
4. Add beaten eggs, mix well.
5. Stir in the cereal.
6. Sift together dry ingredients and mix into batter.
7. Add chips, peanuts, and dates.
8. Pour batter into greased 9x13 pan.
9. Bake in preheated 350°.
10. F oven for 35 to 45 minutes.
11. Cut into bars.
12. Allow to cool just enough to handle and remove from pan.