Cranberry Granola Power Bars

By Foodguy on July 27th, 2008

Stop buying store bought granola bars that are packed with all kinds of additives and preservatives. This simple to make recipe for Cranberry Granola Power Bars is perfect for a quick breakfast on the go or a mid-afternoon snack at the office. Most grocery stores sell nuts and oats in bulk, so yo don’t have to worry about buying too much of one ingredient. I made a batch yesterday and brought them to a friends bbq. They were a big hit! Also remember, you can pretty much substitute any combination of nuts, oats or dried fruits that you’d like. Please let me know how they turn out for you!

To make this recipe a cinch, our online store has some great deals on a set of sheet pans by Chicago Metallic and a Mixing bowl set. To store the granola bars, we have a 2.3 quart Rubbermaid container for you! All three products are highly rated and eligible for FREE super saver shipping!

Watch and Learn!

Makes 16-18 Bars
Cranberry Granola Power Bars

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups thick-cut rolled oats
1 cup walnuts, crushed
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup whole flaxseed
3/4 cup sunflower seeds
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
4 Tbsp butter
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 cup dried cranberries (8 oz)

step1 Preheat oven to 350°.

step2 Crush the walnuts in a plastic bag using a heavy object or chop very fine using a chef’s knife.

step3 On a baking sheet, spread the walnuts, oats, wheat germ, flax seed, sunflower seeds. Toast in the oven for about 7-10 minutes. Make sure to stir the mixture every few minutes so it doesn’t burn. After the grains and nuts are done, place them in a large mixing bowl.

step4 Line an 11 x 13 inch glass baking dish with parchment paper and then coat with cooking spray.

step5 In a saucepan, combine the brown sugar, honey, butter, vanilla extract, and salt. Bring to a simmer while stirring constantly.

step6 Now add the cranberries and the liquid mixture to the mixing bowl of grains and nuts. Mix thoroughly.

step7 Add the mixture to your prepared glass baking dish. Spread out evenly using a wooden spoon. Cover the top with another piece of parchment paper, using your hands, push down hard to really press out and combine the mixture.

step8 After 2 hours, remove the parchment paper, flip the dish upside down on a cutting board so the large granola bar falls out and remove this layer of parchment paper.