Granola Bars

Chewy and sweet, very yummy--packed with goodness!

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 6
• Yields: 12 bars

Ingredients

• 3⁄4 cup old fashioned oats
• 1⁄2 cup  crispy rice cereal
• 2  tablespoons sesame seeds
• 3⁄4 cup  dried apricot, chopped
• 3⁄4 cup raisins
• 1⁄4 cup powdered milk
• 1⁄4 cup wheat germ
• 1⁄2 cup light corn syrup
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 1⁄4 cup  reduced-fat peanut butter
• 3⁄4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1⁄4 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat baking sheet and 8 x 8 inch pan with cooking spray.
2. Spread first 3 ingredients on baking sheet. Bake, stirring occasionally,until oats are toasted, about 10 minutes.
3. Place next 4 ingredients in a large bowl. When oat mixture comes out of the oven; add to the large bowl.
4. Combine corn syrup and sugar in a saucepan over medium high heat and bring to a boil.
5. Reduce heat, stir in peanut butter, vanilla, and cinnamon.
6. Quickly pour syrup over oatmeal mixture and stir well. With spatula (coated in cooking.spray), immediately spread warm mixture into the 8 x 8 inch pan, pressing into an even layer.(Caution: If you work too slowly, the mixture will harden and be difficult to spread.) Quick.chill in the freezer for 30 minutes.
7. Cut into bars. Individually wrap in wax paper or store in airtight container with waxed paper between layers. They will stay fresh for 4 weeks in the refrigerator or can be frozen.