Thursday, April 23, 2020

Granola Bars with Dried Fruit and Seeds

https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/granola-bars-with-dried-fruit-and-seeds?_rand=0.719828771392392

I've made these 4 times and they're always great.  A small but filling snack to take to the gym.  I'd count on 15 bars.  
I decreased the dried fruit to 1 cup and the coconut to ~1/3 cup to decrease the sugar and saturated fat.  I used almond butter each time, but might try peanut butter next time.  

YIELD
Makes 20 bars   
ACTIVE TIME
30 minutes     
TOTAL TIME
55 minutes

INGREDIENTS

    • Nonstick vegetable cooking spray
    • 1 1/4 cups dried fruit (cherries, raisins, currants, cranberries, and/or blueberries), divided
    • 2/3 cup honey
    • 1/2 cup creamy almond, peanut, or sunflower butter
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
    • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats, divided
    • 1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
    • 1/2 cup raw sesame seeds
    • 1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
    • 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

PREPARATION

    1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly coat a 13x9" pan with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on both long sides; spray parchment.
    2. Pulse 3/4 cup fruit and 1/2 cup hot water in a food processor until smooth and incorporated, 3–4 minutes. Add honey, almond butter, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla and pulse until combined, about 15 seconds. Add 1/2 cup oats and pulse until well combined, 30–45 seconds. Add pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, coconut, and remaining 1 cup oats and 1/2 cup fruit. Pulse until just combined, about 15 seconds.
    3. Transfer mixture to prepared pan, pressing down until completely even. Bake granola until darkened, firm around the edges, and the center gives just slightly when pressed, about 35 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool in pan. Remove granola using parchment overhang, then cut into 20 bars with a serrated knife.
  1. Do Ahead
    1. Granola can be made 5 days ahead. Keep tightly wrapped at room temperature.
Cooks' Note
For crisp bars, arrange baked, sliced bars on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F until golden brown, 8–10 minutes, or toast as desired in a toaster oven.

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