Home Made Granola Bars

Adapted from Brown Eyed Baker

Honestly I am not a huge granola fan but needs to find healthy convenient snacks for on the go and several of my friends raved about this recipe so just made a batch.  I tried the fig and date recipe below but it seems my figs were hard as rocks so just used all dates and made my own apple sauces (4 apples cored & peeled, 2 Tbsp lemon juice & puree) as I never can seem to keep the stuff on hand.  I just threw all the ingredients in the Vitamix except the oats so really fast to make. I found it a little sweet for me so I will likely cut down on the sweetener next time around but oh man are they yummy! Perhaps a little too yummy....

I love that the original author included a basic recipe so you can mix it up so you are not making the same type every time and it is so easy.

Basic Granola Bar Formula
1. Rolled Grains (2½ cups)
Suggestions: Quick or Regular Oats, Rye flakes, Barley flakes, etc.

2. Nuts, Seeds & Spices (1 cup)
Suggestions: Almonds, Walnuts, Pecans, Pistachios, Sunflower Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, 
Pumpkin Pie Spice, Cinnamon, Ginger, etc.

3. Sticky Sweetener (1/3 cup + ¼ cup)
Suggestions: Honey, Agave Nectar, Molasses, Maple Syrup

4. Dried Fruits (1 cup)
Suggestions: Raisins, Apricots, Dates, Figs, Prunes, Cranberries, Pineapple, etc.

5. Binder (1 cup)
Suggestions: Pureed Dried Fruit, Apple Butter, Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, Unsweetened applesauce, etc.

Fig, Date & Almond Granola Bars

Ingredients:

1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/3 + ¼ cup honey
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
2½ cups rolled oats
1 cup chopped almonds
1/3 cup chopped dried figs
1/3 cup chopped dried dates
1/3 cup raisins

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.

2. Throw everything but oats and almonds in Vitamix and blend until nicely mixed.  Pour into bowl then chop nuts in Vitmix and then pour into bowl with the rest of ingredients.  Add oats and stir until combined.

3. Pour mixturer into the pan and press down to evenly flatten..

4. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool in the freezer until the bars are firm, at least 1 hour. Remove from the pan and cut into bars. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

(Recipe adapted from Good Life Eats)