Brie And Candied Nuts Granola Bars Food

EASY NO-BAKE GRANOLA BARS

Steps:

• Line a 9-inch square baker with two strips of criss-crossed parchment paper, cut to fit neatly against the base and up the sides. The parchment paper will make it easy for you to slice the bars later.
• Place the oats in a large mixing bowl**. Add the cinnamon and salt, and stir to combine. Set aside.
• Now we'll blitz the mix-ins briefly in the food processor or blender (or, you can chop them by hand). Add any large nuts (like almonds or pecans) first and blitz for a few seconds. Then add the rest and run the machine for a few more seconds, until the ingredients are all broken up into pieces smaller than your pinky nail. Pour the mix-ins into the bowl of oats.
• In a 2-cup liquid measuring cup, measure out the nut butter. Top with ½ cup honey and the vanilla extract. Stir until well blended. If you must, you can gently warm the liquid mixture on the stovetop or in the microwave, but make sure it's close to room temperature before you pour it into the dry mixture (this is especially important if using chocolate, since it will melt).
• Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients. Use a big spoon to mix them together until the two are evenly combined and no dry oats remain. This takes some arm muscles, but you can do it! If the mixture was easy to mix together, that's a sign that you need to add some more oats-sprinkle in more oats until you can't incorporate any more.
• Transfer the mixture to the prepared square baker. Use your spoon to arrange the mixture fairly evenly in the baker, then use the bottom of a flat, round surface (like a short, sturdy drinking glass) to pack the mixture down as firmly and evenly as possible.
• Cover the baker and refrigerate for at least one hour, or preferably overnight. (The oats need time to soak up some of the moisture so they aren't sticky.) When you're ready to slice, lift the bars out of the baker by grabbing both pieces of parchment paper on opposite corners. Use a sharp knife to slice the bars into 4 even columns and 4 even rows.
• Wrap individual bars in plastic wrap or parchment paper (if you store them all together, they will stick to one another). Bars keep well for several days at room temperature, a couple of weeks in the fridge, or several months in a freezer-safe bag in the freezer for best flavor.

GINGERBREAD GRANOLA BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet with parchment and grease well with nonstick cooking spray.
• Combine the brown sugar with the oil, honey and molasses in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Toss together the oats, nuts, pepitas, dried cranberries, candied ginger, spices, wheat flour, wheat germ and 1 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Pour the honey mixture on top and toss to coat. Transfer to the prepared pan and spread evenly. Spray the bottom of a second baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray and use it to press the granola down into the pan evenly. Sprinkle the holiday sprinkles on top.
• Bake until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool completely, then remove from the baking sheet and cut into fourteen 1 1/2-by-4-inch bars. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week or freeze for up to 2 months.

WHIPPED BRIE SALAD WITH DATES & CANDIED WALNUTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. To make the candied walnuts, shake the walnut halves in 2 tbsp water, then toss in the sugar. Scatter over a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 6-8 mins until golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
• Carefully peel the rind off the brie and discard. Put the gooey inside in a medium-sized bowl. Using a spoon or small whisk, whip the brie until pale and spoonable. To make the dressing, whisk the oil and vinegar together, then season.
• In a large bowl, combine the walnuts, dates and rocket, then mix with some of the dressing. Place a spoonful of whipped brie in the middle of each serving plate and arrange the salad around it. Scatter over the croutons, drizzle with a little extra dressing and serve.

GRANOLA WITH CANDIED GINGER

Steps:

• Toast oats, almonds and walnuts in a wok or deep skillet for about 5 min over low heat. Stir often.
• Add raisins and coconut. Toast 3 min, stirring.
• Add flax seeds, wheat germ, candied ginger and powdered ginger. Stir constantly to prevent burning.
• It's done! Serve with fresh fruit and yogurt or milk.

FRUIT AND NUT GRANOLA BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease an 8x8 glass pan.
• Place nuts and oats on a baking sheet, and bake for about 12 minutes or until lightly toasted.
• While oats and nuts are toasting, place in a saucepan over medium heat the honey, brown sugar, butter, vanilla, cinnamon and salt.
• Stir until the mixture bubbles, and keep it boiling and stirring for about 2 minutes.
• When oats and nuts come out of the oven, turn it down to 325.
• Take the pan off the heat, and when the oats are finished, pour them right into the saucepan and mix to combine honey mixture evenly.
• Stir in the chopped dried fruit.
• Press mixture into the glass pan with the back of a spoon - it will be pretty sticky.
• Bake at 325 for 20 minutes, and let cool completely before cutting.
• Wrapped in saran wrap, these will keep for at least a couple of weeks!

NUT BUTTER GRANOLA BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Toast nuts pumpkin seeds on a rimmed baking sheet until golden brown or slightly darkened in color, 10-12 minutes. Transfer to a food processor and let sit until cool enough to handle.
• Reduce oven temperature to 300°F. Lightly oil 13x9" pan and line with parchment paper, leaving overhang on both long sides. Lightly oil parchment.
• Add 1 cup oats to nut mixture in food processor and pulse until nuts are a sandy consistency and no whole oats remain. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Pulse any dried fruit larger than a raisin in food processor (no need to wipe out) until about the size of chocolate chips. Transfer to bowl with nut mixture. Add remaining 1 cup oats and stir to combine, breaking up any fruit that is stuck together. Add remaining 3 Tbsp. oil and stir to coat. Add peanut butter, but don't stir it in; set aside.
• Bring honey, salt, and vanilla to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat (it will bubble up). Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until it is foaming vigorously and smells like caramel, about 3 minutes.
• Immediately pour honey mixture over peanut butter in reserved bowl (it will melt the peanut butter). Stir to combine, making sure to aggressively break up any clumps.
• Using a fork or small whisk, lightly beat egg white in a small bowl to thin out. Add to oat mixture and mix until egg white is no longer visible.
• Scrape oat mixture into prepared pan and press firmly into an even layer. (Be sure to really compact the mixture into the pan-it helps to use the bottom of a heavy glass or metal measuring cup.)
• Bake granola bars until deep golden brown and no longer sticky or wet, 30-35 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes, then lightly score into 16 long rectangles (1 cut lengthwise and 7 cuts crosswise will make bars that are about 6½x1"). Let cool completely in pan, then use parchment to hoist bars out onto a cutting board. Using a sharp chef's knife, cut along marks to separate bars.
• Do Ahead: Bars can be made 1 week ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.