Thick, Chewy Granola Bars
Adapted from Smittenkitchen.com
 
1 2/3 cups quick rolled oats
1/3 granulated sugar
1/3 cup oat flour (or 1/3 cup oats, processed till finely ground in a food processor or blender)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 to 3 cups dried fruits and nuts (options: craisens, raisens, dried apricots, cherries, etc..., pecans, almonds or walnuts)
1/3 cup almond butter or peanut butter (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons melted butter
1/4 cup applesauce
1/4 cup honey, maple syrup or corn syrup
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 tablespoon water
 
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease pan with Pam spray or line with parchment paper and spray.
Stir together all the dry ingredients, including the fruit and nuts. In a separate bowl, the wet ingredients. Toss the wet ingredients with the dry until the mixture is evenly crumbly. Spread in the prepared pan, pressing them in firmly to ensure they are molded to the shape of the pan.
Bake the bars for 30 to 40 minutes, until they’re brown around the edges. Cool the bars in their pan completely on a cooling rack. Once cool, a serrated knife (or bench knife) to cut the bars into squares. To store, wrap the bars individually in plastic or stack them in an airtight container. They also freeze well.
Bethany

Eat and Enjoy.
 
Bethany and Marline