Homemade Granola Bars

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal
• 1 cup sliced almonds
• 1 cup shredded coconut, loosely packed
• 1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (i used salted)
• 2/3 cup honey
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup pitted dates, chopped
• 1/2 cup dried apricot, chopped
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• 2 butter a 9x13 baking dish and line it with parchment paper.
• 3 toss the oatmeal, almonds, and coconut together on a sheet pan and bake for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned.
• 4 transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl and stir in the wheat germ. reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees.
• 5 place the butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla and salt in a small saucepan and bring to boil over medium heat.
• 6 cook and stir for a minute, then pour over the oatmeal mixture.
• 7 add the dates, apricots and cranberries and stir well.
• 8 pour the mixture into the prepared pan.
• 9 wet your fingers and lightly press the mixture evenly into the pan. bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until light golden brown.
• 10 cool for at least 2 to 3 hours before cutting into squares.
• 11 serve at room temperature.