Thursday, February 9, 2012

Cranberry Granola Bars

So granola bars are expensive. Luckily, they are easy to make. These came out a nice texture between crunchy and chewy. Add more almond/peanut butter or honey for a chewier texture.


4 cups of rolled oats

3/4 cup chopped walnuts (or other nut of your choosing)

1 cup almond butter (or peanut, or sunflower, etc)
1/2 cup honey

3/4 cup dried cranberries
1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt



Preheat oven to 350.
Melt peanut butter on stove, stirring often so it doesn't burn. Add the honey and the cinnamon and stir until smooth. Meanwhile, mix the oats, salt, and nuts together. Add the honey mixture and use your hands to really work the granola so it is all moist. If it seems too dry to you, add a little more honey, maybe a tablespoon. The granola should be sticky, but not wet. Add the cranberries and kind of loosely mix them in. Press the mixture into a non-stick cookie sheet. Use a smaller sheet for thicker bars. Bake for 25 minutes. Cool and cut. Makes approx 16 bars.

Variations:

Peanut butter, chopped peanuts, raisins
chocolate chips instead of dried fruit
chopped apricot and shredded coconut
chopped dates and almonds (and coconut?)
pistachios and dried cherries
add some flax seeds
drizzle the top with melted chocolate

Really, these are so versatile that you can make many different combos.

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