Red, White & Blue Granola Bars

Patriotic Granola Bars

GF / DF / V / refined SF

These turned out so great, I had to share. In an attempt to prepare more whole food snack treats for my daughter, I decided for the Courth of July, we would make our own granola bars with dried cranberries (red), coconut (white) and dried blueberries (you got it: blue). I found a recipe online which I changed significantly to the following:

1/3 c. coconut oil (heated to liquid)

3/4 c. Honey

1 t. Cinnamon 

2 c. Rolled oats

1 c. Coconut (I used unsweetened)

1 c. Nuts (I used raw pecans)

3 c. Dried fruit (I used half dried cranberries 

         and half freeze dried blueberries.)

1/4 c. Coconut sugar

1/2 c. Almond meal

Toast the coconut, nuts and oats in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes or until golden brown, turning and stirring while it toasts. Turn the oven down to 300 after the toasting is complete. Heat the coconut oil, cinnamon and honey in a small saucepan until it boils and quickly turn it off. Mix the toasted oats, coconut and nuts with the dried fruit, sugar and almond meal. Pour the liquid over the mixture and stir well. Prepare an 8x12 or 9x9 pan with butter and line with parchment. Pour and spread the warm mixture into the pan and bake at 300 for at least 25 minutes. We like them chewy, but 25 may have been too short. Let them cool for three hours before cutting. These are pretty sweet, and I think the honey could be reduced if the coconut oil was increased for more liquid.