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nutfree fruit and seed granola bars

fruit and seed granola bars

Soft, sweet and tart, healthy, satisfying, nutritious and so yummy! To enjoy this healthy fruit and seed granola bar in the office and after school, in between, after sports, hiking or just because....

Course gluten free, granola, granola bar, lactose free, snack
Cuisine American
Keyword fruit and seed granola bars, gluten-free granola bar, granola bars, healthy snack, nut-free granola bar
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
cooling time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings 20 bars
Author M. Magdalena

Ingredients

  • 2 C rolled oats I like Trader Joe's GF rolled oats
  • 1 C coconut flakes
  • ½ C mixed seeds like pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, chia or add in some nuts (I left it out for allergy reason)
  • 1 pinch mindfulness
  • 6 Tbsp. grape seed oil or other neutral oil, plus extra for brushing pan
  • ½ C honey if you prefer vegan you can sub with barley or rice syrup
  • 1/3 C coconut sugar
  • 1/4 C maple syrup I like the dark amber rich taste
  • 2 pinch sea salt
  • 2 C mixed dried fruits such as raisins, sour cherries, pineapple, mango, cranberries, barberries (at least 3 kinds, cut into small pieces if large)
  • 1 tsp. ground cardamom
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla powder

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 350F/175C degrees. Line a 9-inch-square baking pan with parchment paper, letting a few inches hang over the side of pan. Brush the pan and the parchment with oil.

  2. Spread oats and seeds on a baking pan and toast for 4 minutes. 

  3. Be mindful and take a few deep breaths to make sure the mixture is getting nicely browned and not burned!

  4. Add the shaved coconut flakes, stay mindful, enjoy your breath and continue toasting everything for 3 more minutes, just until golden and fragrant.

  5. In a saucepan, combine oil, honey, coconut sugar, maple syrup and salt. Stir over medium heat until smooth and hot.
  6. In a mixing bowl, toss together toasted oats and seeds, dried fruit, vanilla, cinnamon and cardamom. Pour hot sugar mixture over and stir until well combined.
    mixing dry ingredients with the wet ingredients for the fruit and seed granola bar

  7. While mixture is warm, transfer to prepared pan, pressing evenly into the pan with the slightly oiled flat bottom of a glass or a big measuring cup while you enjoy the wonderful smell of the toasted oats, seeds and spices.

    patting down the granola bar mixture into a pan with a measuring cup

  8. Bake 25 to 30 minutes until brown. Transfer the pan to a rack until it is cooled off a bit. Pat down again to dense it up (this keeps the bars solid when you cut them later).

  9. When cooled on the rack for about 15-20 min, place the pan in the fridge to cool completely for at least 1-2 hours.

  10. In the meanwhile cut waxed paper for wrapping the bars. Cut big enough that you can wrap the bars nicely (about 3' by 6'/ 8cmX15cm) 

    fruit and seed granola bar
  11. When fully cooled, take the pan out of the fridge. Lift out of the pan with the overhanging parchment and place on a cutting board.

  12. 10. Cut into bars, about 1 1/2' by 3' (4x8cm) and wrap each one in the prepared waxed paper and tie it with a nice ribbon. 

  13. 11. Guten Appetit!

Recipe Notes

I made these fruit and seed granola bars nut-free for allergy reasons. 

want to add nuts:

just go ahead, reduce the seeds by half and add 1/2 C of roughly cut almonds/ pecan nuts/ tree nuts/ walnuts... mix nuts to your taste and liking.

adjust the sweetness

If it is too sweet/not sweet enough just play with the amount of coconut sugar.