Granola Bars

Chef #1214661's Note:

I use almonds, apricots, blueberries, gogi berries & cranberries, but feel free to mix things up according to your tastes.

• Total Time: 35 mins
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 16 squares

• 2 cups rolled oats
• ½ cup sunflower seed (raw)
• 1 cup slivered almond
• ½ wheat germ (or oat bran)
• ½ cup honey (or agave nectar, or brown rice syrup for a more nutty flavor)
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 1 ½ tablespoons coconut oil (or butter, plus extra for greasing pan)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup dried apricot (chopped)
• ¼ cup dried blueberries
• ¼ cup goji berry (dried)
• ¼ cup dried cranberries (chopped)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. Grease a 9x9 baking dish.
3. Mix oats, sunflower seeds, almonds, wheat germ on a baking sheet and bake for 8 minutes, mixing once in between. Meanwhile, in a sauce pan, heat coconut oil, brown sugar, vanilla and honey together. After the sugar has dissolved, let the mixture bubble up for a minute. Add oat mixture to honey/sugar and stir until well incorporated.
4. Transfer the mixture to the greased dish and press down evenly with the back of a spatula. Bake for 25 minutes.
5. When cooled, cut into 16 squares.