Wholesome granola bars filled with oats, nuts, seeds, and a hint of honey for chewy, nutritious snacks.
# Components:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1 cup crispy rice cereal
03 - ½ cup raw sunflower seeds
04 - ½ cup chopped mixed nuts (almonds, walnuts, or pecans)
05 - ½ cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
06 - ½ cup chopped dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, or apricots)
07 - ¼ teaspoon salt
08 - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
→ Wet Ingredients
09 - ½ cup honey or maple syrup
10 - ½ cup creamy peanut butter or almond butter
11 - ¼ cup unsalted butter
12 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a large bowl, mix oats, rice cereal, sunflower seeds, chopped nuts, chocolate chips if using, dried fruit, salt, and cinnamon evenly.
03 - In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt honey, peanut butter, and butter, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
04 - Pour the wet mixture over the dry ingredients and stir thoroughly until all components are evenly coated.
05 - Transfer mixture into the prepared pan and press firmly and evenly using a spatula or measuring cup bottom.
06 - Bake for 18-20 minutes until edges are golden brown.
07 - Allow to cool completely in the pan. Use parchment overhang to lift out and cut into 16 bars.
08 - Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature up to one week or freeze for extended storage.
