Homemade Granola Bars

This recipe is favorite among family and friends alike. It's so simple to make and if you make a batch you and your kids can have healthy snack or addition to a lunch.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal
• 1 cup raw pumpkin seeds or your favorite nut like almonds
• 1 cup shredded coconut, loosely packed
• 1/2 cup wheat germ
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2/3 cup honey
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup chopped dried cherries
• 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries

Now lets get started on these energy packed cuties.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 8 x 12 baking dish. I usually spray it with a little olive oil.
2. Toast oatmeal, nuts, and coconut for 10 min. make sure to stir occasionally to prevent the mixture from burning.

1. In the last 2 mins. of toasting the oatmeal mixture add the wheat germ. When finished pour the oatmeal mixture into a large bowl. Turn your oven down to 300 degrees.

1. In a small saucepan, add honey, brown sugar, vanilla and salt. Bring it to a boil over medium heat.
    Add the honey mixture to the oatmeal mixture and stir to combine. 

1. Add dried fruits, for fruits like apricots and cherries make sure to chop them up to smaller sizes. Add the dried fruit to the oatmeal/honey mixture and combine well.
2. Transfer to the baking dish and press down lightly into pan. Place in the oven and bake for 30 mins. until golden brown. allow to cool for 1-2 hours then cut into bars.
3. you can place in a airtight container and it should last for a week.

 

Provecho!