Granola Bars, Take Two

I’m at it again… making some delicious homemade granola bars! I can’t stop myself. Sorry. 🙂

What I love about these Fruit and Nut Granola Bars is that they are incredibly chewy and packed with raisins, dried cranberries, and dried apricots alongside nuts and chocolate.

While my first run through was of a crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside variety, these fruit and nut bars almost have the consistency of cereal bars… soft but with enough substance to be filling and not crumbly. Where my last batch was incredibly sweet, these boast more natural sweetness and a variety of flavors in every bite.They are great for on the go snacking or a pre/post workout fuel. Hope you enjoy!

Fruit and Nut Granola Bars [inspired by this formula from the Brown Eyed Baker]

Ingredients:

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1/2 cup wheat germ, toasted in a 350 degree oven for 5 minutes
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup creamy natural peanut butter
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/3 cup raisins, soaked in hot water for about 20 minutes and then patted dry
• 1/3 cup chopped apricots
• 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/4 cup sunflower kernels
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and grease an 8×8 baking dish with cooking spray. In a large bowl, mix together oats, wheat germ, apricots, chocolate chips, walnuts, sunflower kernels, pecans and pumpkin pie spice. In a small bowl, stir together pumpkin, peanut butter, honey, and maple syrup, then fold into dry ingredients until fully combined. Press into prepared pan, then bake for about 25-27 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack, then cut into bars. Wrap individually in plastic wrap for easy transport, and store in the freezer to keep fresh.

Click here for the printable version: Fruit and Nut Granola Bars

Question of the Day: What snack are you loving lately?