Leah's Loaded Granola Bars
Makes 15 servings (Serving Size, 1 bar)
Ingredients
2 cups raw oats
2 scoops MILA (4 tablespoons chia seeds)
1/3 cup raw, unsweetened coconut flakes
1/3 cup raw steel cut oats or buckwheat
3/4 cup raw, unsalted sunflower seeds
1/4 cup raw, unsalted pumpkin seeds
1 cup walnuts, crushed (or other nut or uncrushed seed)
2/3 cup coconut sugar
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup raw, unprocessed black strap molasses (can substitute with honey)
4 tablespoons coconut oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoons sea salt
8 ounces dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, dates, etc)
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
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Mix dry ingredients, from oats to walnuts, then place in a shallow baking pan (about 10”x15.5”) to toast for 10-12 minutes, stirring every few minutes, careful not to burn.
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Prepare glass baking dish (9”x13”) for granola by lining with unbleached parchment paper, coated with coconut oil (You’re coating the paper, not the pan.).
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Remove dry ingredients from oven, set aside, and turn off oven.
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Combine all other ingredients EXCEPT dried fruit in a small saucepan on medium heat to bring to a simmer, stirring constantly until light in color and thickened (about 10 min, can lower heat, if necessary). The longer the sugar heats, the crunchier the bars will be.
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Combine all ingredients into large mixing bowl, including toasted ingredients, liquid ingredients, dried fruit, and mix well, as quickly as possible, before sugar hardens.
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Spread mixture on greased parchment paper in prepared baking dish, packing evenly with a spatula (too hot to handle). The more compacted, the better the bars will stay together.
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Once granola has cooled (2-3 hours), remove from pan by pulling on edges of parchment paper and place on cutting board to cut into bars.
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Press firmly with large knife, careful not to “saw” into granola. Start by making 4 cuts, the length of the pan, so you have 5 long strips, about 1 1/2” wide. Then make 3 even pieces, about 4 1/3” long, of each strip, by making 2 cuts in each.
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Enjoy immediately!
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Store in airtight container for up to 1 week.