Granola Bars

Simple to make and so yummy – a guilt-free snack!

8"-square baking pan
parchment paper
oil of choice, such as grapeseed oil, or pure olive oil, or palm oil
1/2 cup GF rolled oats, or Quinoa Flakes, or Enjoy Life's Crunchy Rice Cereal, or GF cereal of choice
1/2 cup dried cranberries, or dried fruit of choice
1/2 cup sliced almonds, or nuts and/or seeds of choice, or additional dried fruit of choice (soak then drain dried fruit prior to adding to mixture)
1/4 cup pumpkin seed flour, or chia seed flour, or tapioca flour, or arrowroot starch, or cornstarch, or potato starch
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup nut or seed butter of choice, or bean butter, or rutabaga butter
1/2 cup light brown sugar, or dark brown sugar, or cane sugar
1/4 cup water, or organic 100% apple juice, or organic 100% fruit juice of choice

1. Place baking rack in first position; preheat oven to 300°F.
2. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper; lightly oil parchment paper with oil of choice; set aside.
3. In large bowl combine GF rolled oats, dried fruit of choice, and nuts and/or seeds of choice.
4. Add GF flour of choice, ground cinnamon, and sea salt; stir to combine; set aside.
5. In saucepan over medium heat whisk together nut or seed butter, light brown sugar and water over low heat until sugar has dissolved, about 5 minutes.
6. Remove pan from heat; stir in dry ingredients.
7. Spread granola mixture into bottom of prepared pan; smooth out top.
8. Place in preheated 300°F oven; bake until top is firm about 30 minutes, and up to 40 minutes (depends on ingredients used and how wet the mixture is).
9. Remove pan from oven to cooking rack; cool 10 minutes.
10. Lift out of pan by grasping parchment paper.
11. Let cool completely; using serrated knife cut into 16 bars.
12. Store in airtight container up to 1 week.
    

Servings: 16 bars
Preheat: 300°F
Prep Time: 10 min
Cooking Time: 30 - 40 minutes

To soak dried fruit: place desired amount of dried fruit into a bowl; add water; set aside for 30 minutes. Or, place dried fruit in bow; add boiling water; set aside for 10 minutes. Retain1/4 cup soaking water to use in recipe.

To use agave nectar or honey: omit light brown sugar; add 1/3 cup agave nectar or honey of choice to saucepan; reduce water to 3 tablespoons.
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FOR 8 GRANOLA BARS:

1/4 cup GF rolled oats, or Quinoa Flakes, or Enjoy Life's Crunchy Rice Cereal, or GF cereal of choice
1/4 cup dried cranberries, or dried fruit of choice
1/4 cup sliced almonds, or nuts and/or seeds of choice, or additional dried fruit of choice (soak then drain dried fruit prior to adding to mixture)
2 tablespoons pumpkin seed flour, or chia seed flour, or tapioca flour, or arrowroot starch, or cornstarch, or potato starch
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup nut or seed butter of choice, or bean butter, or rutabaga butter
1/4 cup light brown sugar, or dark brown sugar, or cane sugar
2 tablespoons water, or organic 100% apple juice, or organic 100% fruit juice of choice                                                                                                                                                                     

Follow the directions as stated above.

Servings: 8 bars
Preheat: 300°F
Prep Time: 10 min
Cooking Time: 25 - 30 minutes