These mouthwatering chewy granola bars are loaded with trail mix flavors perfect for an easy on-the-go breakfast, midday treat, or healthy snack. Loaded with oats, almonds, pumpkin seeds, dried cherries, dried apricots, and dark chocolate chips, these customizable bars are a little sweet, a little salty, and totally irresistible. Made with wholesome ingredients and held together with local honey, these sweet-but-healthy bars are packed with nutrients and are sure to be a hit all year long.
Makes 18 bars
Ingredients
Cherry Apricot Nut and Seed Granola Bars
2½ cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup whole raw almonds, roughly chopped
¾ cup pepitas (shelled unsalted pumpkin seeds)
4 Tbsp unsalted butter
⅔ cup honey
¼ cup light brown sugar
½ tsp salt
1½ tsp pure vanilla extract
¾ cup dried apricots, roughly chopped
¾ cup dried cherries, roughly chopped
½ cup mini dark chocolate chips
Directions
Cherry Apricot Nut and Seed Granola Bars
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 10x15-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to lift the finished bars out, then spray the paper with non-stick cooking spray.
On a large baking sheet, mix together the oats, almonds, and pumpkin seeds. Toast in the oven for 10 minutes, and then dump into a large mixing bowl.
Reduce the oven temperature to 300°F.
While the oats are toasting, combine the butter, honey, brown sugar, and salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook for 1 minute once it reaches a boil. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
Pour the honey mixture over the oat mixture in the bowl. Add the dried apricots and cherries and mix well until all ingredients are well coated with the honey mixture. Allow the mixture to cool slightly, and then add the chocolate chips and mix well. (Make sure the mixture is cool. Otherwise, the chocolate chips will melt immediately.)
Dump the mixture into the prepared pan and press firmly into an even layer with wet hands.
Bake for 25-30 minutes. Allow to cool completely (about 3 hours) before cutting into 18 bars.
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