How to Make Vegan Chewy Granola Bars
Granola bars are not only delicious but full of nutrients as well. Oatmeal, honey, butter, wheat and different dry fruits in a chewy granola bar make it a healthy tea-time snack.
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Utensils: Baking dish, oven, stove, mixing bowl, measuring cups, measuring spoons, parchment paper.
Ingredients:
Old-fashioned oatmeal: 2 cups
Sliced almonds: 1 cup
Shredded coconut, loosely packed: 1 cup
Toasted wheat germ: 1/2 cup
Unsalted butter: 3 tablespoons
Honey: 2/3 cup
Light brown sugar, lightly packed: 1/4 cup
Pure vanilla extract: 1 1/2 teaspoons
Kosher salt: 1/4 teaspoon
Chopped pitted dates: 1/2 cup
Chopped dried apricots: 1/2 cup
Dried cranberries: 1/2 cup
Instructions
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1
Preheat your oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
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2
The first step for making your own chewy granola bars is to toast coconut, almonds and oatmeal. Toss all the three ingredients on a large baking sheet and place in the preheated oven for ten to twelve minutes or until they become golden brown. Keep stirring your nuts occasionally to ensure uniform heating.
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3
Once your nuts are ready, transfer them to a large mixing bowl and add half cup of toasted wheat germ to them before mixing thoroughly.
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4
Meanwhile, reduce the temperature of the oven by 50 degrees (i.e. 300 degree F). Also grease an 8x12 inch baking dish with butter and line it with parchment/ butter paper.
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5
To make the binder, melt three tablespoons of unsalted butter in a small sauce pan on low heat before pouring 2/3 cup honey into the saucepan.
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6
Also add 1/4 cup light brown sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt to it.
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7
Bring the mixture to boil on medium heat and allow it to simmer for one minute, while stirring it.
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8
Pour this concoction over the toasted mixture of oatmeal and wheat germ.
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9
Also add half cup chopped, pitted dates, half cup chopped dried apricots and half cup dried cranberries to the mixture and stir well.
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10
Pour the mixture into the baking pan which you greased and lined with parchment paper.
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11
Gently press this mixture with wet figures to give it an even shape.
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12
Place the dish in the oven (preheated at 300 degrees Fahrenheit) and bake for half an hour or until golden brown.
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13
Remove the pan from the oven and allow it to cool for at least a couple of hours before cutting small pieces to your liking.
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14
Serve your Chewy Granola Bars at room temperature.