Healthy Homemade Granola Bars (no refined sugar)
These yummy homemade granola bars are made with whole foods and unsweetened crispy rice cereal for a nice crunchy bar that kids and adults will love. Full of healthy nuts, seeds, and dried fruit for energy on the go.
Equipment
- 7" by 11" baking pan (or an 8" by 8")
- Parchment Paper
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 2 cups puffed brown rice cereal unsweetened
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut unsweetened
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries or other dried fruit such as dates, raisins, etc
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
- 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1 cup almond butter or peanut butter
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the puffed rice, rolled oats, shredded coconut, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and dried fruit. Stir well.
- In a small saucepan, melt the coconut oil
- Add the maple syrup to the coconut oil and warm it up a little too. You want it warmed enough to soften the almond butter and make it easier to combine and stir into the crispy rice mixture, but not enough to make the rice hot.
- Remove from heat and add the almond butter, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon to the saucepan and whisk until well combined.
- Pour the almond butter mixture into the mixing bowl with the other ingredients and stir until the dry ingredients are evenly coated.
- Prepare a baking pan (7" by 11" or 8" by 8") with a lining of parchment paper and lightly coat the ends where the parchment paper does not reach with a little coconut oil.
- Pour the crispy rice mixture into the prepared pan and press firmly into the pan (If needed, rub a little coconut oil on your hands to help it not stick) as hard as you can, packing it VERY tightly so that the bars will hold together nicely.
- Place the pan into the freezer for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, slice away or loosen the edges of the bars from the baking pan with a knife and lift out of the pan. Using a sharp knife, slice into even bars of whatever size you prefer.
- Place the bars in a glass storage container and keep in the refrigerator.
- Store the granola bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- Enjoy!