Fruity Chocolate Granola Bars Food

HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE GRANOLA BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper so that it hangs over the edges.
• *Optional - spread oats on a baking sheet in a single layer and toast in the oven for 7-10 minutes shaking the pan occasionally until just starting to turn golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool a few minutes.
• Transfer the cooled oats to a large bowl and add the dried fruit, nuts, cacao powder and salt, stir to mix.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the applesauce, maple syrup and vanilla until smooth.
• Fold in the chia seeds and cacao nibs if using until combined.
• Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish, pressing into the corners and flattening the top.
• Bake for 30 minutes, remove from oven and place on a rack to cool for 10-15 minutes.
• Remove the bars from the dish by lifting the edges of the parchment paper up and place directly on the rack until cooled completely.
• Cut into 8 pieces and store wrapped tightly or in an air tight container. Bars will keep at room temperature for about 5 days or up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

FRUITY CHOCOLATE GRANOLA BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350˚F. Butter an 8-by-12-inch baking dish and line it with parchment paper.
• Toss the oats, almonds, and coconut together on a sheet pan and bake for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl.
• Reduce oven temperature to 300˚F. Place the butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.
• Continue to cook while stirring constantly for 1 minute, then pour over the toasted oats mixture. Add the raisins, currants, and chocolate chips, and stir well.
• Pour mixture into the prepared pan. Wet your fingers and lightly press evenly into the pan.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes, until light golden brown. Cool for at least 1 hour at room temperature in the pan.
• Transfer the pan to the refrigerator to cool for another 1-2 hours.
• Cut into squares in the pan and then remove, being sure to peel off any parchment paper that sticks to the bottom of the bars. Serve at room temperature.
• Serve at room temperature.

GRANOLA BARS WITH CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Generously butter or oil a 9-by-9-inch metal or glass baking pan.
• Melt the butter over medium heat in a wide saucepan. Add the flaked grains or oats. Stir over medium heat until the grains are lightly toasted, taking care not to let them burn. Stir until they are beginning to smell toasty and have slightly darkened, six to seven minutes. Remove from the heat, and transfer to a bowl. Add the flaxseed meal, the cinnamon and the salt. Wipe the pan clean.
• Combine the honey, vanilla and brown sugar in the pan in which you toasted the oats. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil five minutes. Pour over the oat mixture, and stir until it is evenly distributed over the mixture. Allow to cool for five minutes, then stir in the chocolate pieces.
• Scrape into the pan, and spread evenly. Place in the oven for 20 minutes. Do not allow to brown or the bars will be hard instead of chewy. Remove from the heat, and allow to cool. Cut into 16 to 20 pieces, and store in an airtight container.

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!

FRUIT FILLED GRANOLA BARS

Steps:

• Combine in Mixing bowl the oats, flour, baking soda and brown sugar.
• Cut in margarine until it looks like coarse crumbs.
• Reserving 1/4 cup of mixture for top, press remainder of mixture firmly and evenly into bottom of an ungreased 9X9 pan.
• Spread pureed fruit onto top of oatmeal mixture.
• Sprinkle reserved 1/4 cup of oatmeal mixture onto top, following it with a sprinkling of all of the nuts.
• Press mixture very lightly to make sure all of the nuts are'committed' but not so hard that the fruit all squishes to the top.
• Bake at 350 degrees fahrenheit for approximately 30 minutes or until top is golden.
• Cool in the pan.
• Cut into bars.
• Makes 20-25 bars.