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)

 

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

• 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.

• 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.).

• Remove dry ingredients from oven, set aside, and turn off oven.

• 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.

• Combine all ingredients into large mixing bowl, including toasted ingredients, liquid ingredients, dried fruit, and mix well, as quickly as possible, before sugar hardens.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Enjoy immediately!

• Store in airtight container for up to 1 week.