Pre-Made Our Way: Granola Bars

I love making my own stuff! Bread, yogurt, pancake mix, even cheese once! This fun challenge is hosted by Natalie at Oven Love, and comes at just the right time. Make your own granola bars! We are going to a big camping event and I was just getting around to thinking about the food for that weekend. These will make a perfect snack! Natalie shared some links when she posted this challenge and I followed those to this wonderful bar from Kristin at The Kitchen Sink Recipes. Man, does she have some gorgeous recipes there! I'll be making this and this in the very near future. YUM!

Nuts and seeds waiting to be toasted. Pretty, huh!

Syrup ingredients waiting to get melty.

Mmmmm, smells wonderful!

Prep square pan with parchment.

10 minutes later, all toasted.

Into the bowl along with the fruit. I went with tart cherries, yum!

Pour in the syrup.

Stir with a wooden spoon. For, like, 100 years. It will come together eventually!

Dump into pan.

Tamp down with a measuring cup. This part was fun :)

Bake for 30 minutes.

Let cool for evvvvvvver. Really. 2+ hours.

Cut up into bars. Lots of bits fell off the bars. Yummy bits. Somebody had to eat them!

Sponge Bob. Sponge Bob ate them.

The rhino smelled something wonderful and came to investigate.

Seriously, these bars will draw a crowd!



Granola Bars
Adapted from Kristin at The Kitchen Sink Recipes

2 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup flax seeds
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1 cup whole almonds
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup peanut butter (I used chunky)
1 cup dried tart cherries

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
Line a sheet pan and an 8x8" pan with parchment. (Make 'handles' on the 8" pan)
On the sheet pan, combine the oats, coconut, seeds and almonds.
Toast in the oven for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a medium pan over medium heat, combine salt, cinnamon, vanilla, honey, brown sugar, and peanut butter.
Keep warm after sugar has dissolved.
Transfer toasted seed and nut mixture to a large bowl.
Add cherries.
Pour sugar mixture over nuts and cherries and mix well.
Pack into 8" pan with the back of a measuring cup.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Remove from oven and let cool completely on a wire rack.
Use the parchment 'handles' to remove granola to a cutting board.
Using a long, sharp knife, cut into 1" bars.
Cut the bars in half.
Store in airtight container.
Hide from roaming Ninja Turtles.