Date & Nut Granola Bars
This is a delicious soft and chewy granola bar, inspired by my Great find #1 The pressed pitted dates. I use a bunch of natural sweets and nuts to make this healthy ,energizing delicious snack.
Ingredients: 1/3 cup Almonds,1/3 cup pecans, 1/3 cup raw sunflower seeds. 1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds, 1 Tablespoon sesame seeds, 2 cups Oatmeal (quick oats or Old fashion), 1/4 cup unsweetened flake coconut, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 cup pressed pitted dates a chunk about 1.5"X 1.5"X 3", or pitted dates packed into measuring cup, 1/4 cup Turkish dried apricots, 3 strips dried mango, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1/2 cup honey
Preheat oven to 325 degrees,
Line an 8"X 8" square baking pan with parchment paper, so that the bars are easy to remove. use two pieces overlapping each other so the paper lays flat and the bars come out neat.
Coarsely chop almonds and pecans!
In a large bowl combine sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, oatmeal, coconut, cinnamon , salt and chopped almonds and pecans.
In a food processor pulse pulled apart dates, Turkish apricots and dried mango till griddy consistency. Slowly drizzle in about half the honey or until it is a moist paste.
Scoop date paste mixture into bowl with oat mixture , add the rest of the honey and the vanilla. Mix together well till all the dry oat mixture is coated. Press mixture into prepared baking dish.
Bake for 25 minutes till top is golden brown.
Let cool , remove from pan and cut into squares. These are 1.5" X 1.5".
I like to wrap each square in plastic wrap, keeps it fresh and you can just grab bar and go.
Wrap some up in parchment paper , to share with special friends!
