Healthy Chewy Nut Fruit & Dark Chocolate Granola Bar Recipe
When I first started looking for recipes, granola bars were high on my list. My kids seem to devour them endlessly, but after examining the ingredient list of store-bought options, I felt compelled to find a healthier solution. Although I could have opted for an organic brand from the supermarket, making them myself allows me to control the ingredients and tailor them to suit my family’s preferences.
This recipe leans towards a sophisticated flavor with its inclusion of dark chocolate chips, making it more appealing to adults. However, I plan to introduce dried fruits in the next batch to increase their sweetness and kid-friendliness.
- 2 cups old-fashioned oats (we used organic)
- ½ cup sunflower seeds (we used raw)
- 1 cup chopped almonds (we used raw)
- ½ cup peanuts (we substituted with pumpkin seeds)
- ½ cup raw honey
- ⅓ cup of natural peanut butter
- 1 oz butter (we used organic)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp sea salt
- 1½ cups dried fruit (we used ½ organic dark chocolate instead)
- Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. Spread oats on a half pan and toast in the oven for 15 minutes. Afterward, transfer them to a bowl and lower the oven temperature to 300 degrees.
- In the meantime, mix honey, peanut butter, vanilla, butter, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring until combined. Pour this mixture over the oats immediately. Incorporate nuts and fruit or chocolate chips (note that chocolate may slightly melt, giving bars a darker appearance): stir until everything is evenly coated.
- Feel free to experiment with fruits; raisins are tasty, but unsweetened apricots and cranberries are also excellent options.
- Pack the mixture firmly into a greased baking pan and bake for approximately 25 minutes.
- Once out of the oven, allow the bars to cool completely (around one hour) prior to slicing into 2-inch squares.
- Store the bars in AIR TIGHT containers to preserve them for about 2 weeks.
I must admit that I made a slight blunder while preparing my bars. Excited to sample them, I forgot to put them back in the oven once everything was mixed. Naturally, the result resembled “no-bake cookies,” as Kaytlin noted. The nuts remained crunchy but were a bit sticky due to the honey.
Should you choose to bake your bars and they end up crumbly, ensure your oven settings are accurate, as overbaking can cause breakage. A quality rubber spatula will also help you to firmly press the mixture down. Additionally, avoid overcooking the sauce, as any of these factors can contribute to a crumbly texture.
Enjoy!
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