Can I copyright a recipe?

I have come up with a recipe for what I call my nature bars and have started to make them for people. Do I have to copyright my recipe and how do I get started doing this as a business?

Thanks,
Dana

The Copyright Office clearly states that mere listings of ingredients as in recipes, formulas, compounds or prescriptions are not subject to copyright protection. However, where a recipe or formula is accompanied by substantial literary expression in the form of an explanation or directions, or when there is a combination of recipes, as in a cookbook, there may be a basis for copyright protection.  For more information on what is copyrightable and how to do it, go to the Copyright Office's website at www.copyright.gov.