How to Make Healthy and Delicious Granola Bars
 
 
Homemade Granola Bars that are packed with healthy nuts and dried fruit.
Author:
Recipe type: Breakfast/Snack
Serves: 16-24 bars
Ingredients
  • 2 cups old-fashioned oats
  • 1 cup sliced almonds
  • 1 cup shredded coconut, loosely packed (I used unsweetened)
  • ½ cup toasted wheat germ (or flaxseed meal)
  • 3 TBSP. unsalted butter
  • ⅔ cup honey (or a little less)
  • 2 TBSP. brown sugar, lightly packed
  • 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 TBSP. orange zest
  • ½ cup pitted dried apricots, chopped finely
  • ½ cup pitted dried dates, chopped finely
  • ½ cup dried cranberries (or raisins)
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
  2. Butter an 8×12-inch baking dish and line it with parchment paper. Set aside.
  3. Toss the oats, sliced almonds, and coconut together on a large sheet pan and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl and stir in the wheat germ.
  4. Reduce the oven temperature to 300°F.
  5. Place the butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla and salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook and stir for a minute and then pour over the toasted oatmeal mixture. Add the orange zest and the diced dried fruit and then stir well to incorporate.
  6. Pour the mixture into your prepared baking dish and press well with a silicon spatula first and then with wet fingers until the mixture is packed evenly and as tightly as possible into the pan.
  7. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until light golden brown. Cool for about 2 hours before cutting into squares. (Use a very sharp knife for this).
Notes
Recipe adapted from Ina Garten's homemade Granola bars.
These granola bars are very filling, so for me the smaller size is perfect. To store, place in an airtight container at room temperature for a week. You can also store them in the freezer. Granola bars tend to soften at room temperature after a few days.
Recipe by Marilena's Kitchen at https://marilenaskitchen.com/healthy-and-delicious-granola-bars/