NutritionBabes Fruit and Nut Granola Bars

Our Fruit and Nut Granola Bars are a super easy way to enjoy a quick, natural and healthy snack.  These tasty bars are low in sugar and sodium, and contain heart healthy fats from the flax seeds, nuts and sunflower seeds.  Play around with them and find your favorite flavor combination.

1 cup old-fashioned oats
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
2 Tablespoons ground flax seed 
1 cup whole grain puffed wheat cereal (unsweetened)
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup raisins, chopped
1/4 cup creamy almond butter
1/4 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon semi-sweet mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Coat an 8x8 or 9x9 square pan with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

On a baking sheet (preferably with a rim) combine oats, sunflower seeds, flaxseed and puffed wheat.  Bake for about 3 minutes, then add pecans and bake additional 2-3 minutes .  Watch closely, the nuts will burn if overcooked!  Remove from oven and place in a large bowl.  Add raisins, toss, and set aside.  In a small saucepan, combine almond butter, honey, vanilla, and salt.  Cook over medium low heat while stirring gently until bubbly, about 3-5 minutes.  Remove from heat and pour almond butter mixture over oat mixture.  Stir well with a large spoon or spatula until thoroughly combined.  Transfer to square pan and use very firm pressure to press flat with spatula.  Once flat and even, sprinkle 1 T of mini chocolate chips and press into top. Refrigerate until cool and firm, at least several hours to overnight.  Cut into 16 bars and store in refrigerator in a baggie or container with lid.

Makes 16 servings:

Per bar: 97 calories, 5g fat, 0 chol, 7g sugar, 1.5g fiber, 65mg sodium, 2.3g protein

Tips and Twists:

One of the best things about these bars is their versatility.  You can use any type of nuts; think almonds, walnuts, cashews or pistachios.  Almost any dried fruit works well too. Cherries, dates, cranberries, apricots…use your imagination.  The level of sweetness can easily increase or decrease based on the amount of fruit, honey, or other sweetener you prefer.  You can also substitute Hemp Hearts for the flaxseed to provide some extra protein and omega 3's.