Granola Bars
*6 cups Old Fashion Oats, (no quick oats)
*1/4 cup Extra Light Olive Oil
*1/4 cup Butter, melted
*1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
*1 cup Light Brown Sugar, packed
*3/4 cup Honey
*1/4 cup hot water plus 1 (.14 ounce) package Spiced Apple Cider, sugar-free (Alpine) or 1/4 cup Apple Juice
*1/4 cup Molasses
*1 tablespoon Vanilla
*1 1/2 cups Rice Cereal
*1 cup Wheat Germ
*1/4 cup Pecan pieces
*1/4-1/2 cup sliced Almonds
*8 ounces Milk Chocolate Chips, melted
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Step 1:
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In a large mixing bowl add; oats, olive oil, butter and salt and toss together until oats are coated with oil, butter and salt mixture.
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Step 2:
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Preheat the oven to 350*F.
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On two half baking sheets scoop the coated oats on sheets and toast the oats for 15-20 minutes. ( Stir the oats or shake the oats a couple of times to prevent burning while toasting.). Then remove from oven and set aside. Turning down the heat of the oven to 325*F.
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Step 3:
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In a sauce pan on medium heat; Brown sugar, honey, apple juice/cider and molasses. Heat just until sugar is dissolved, remove from heat and add the vanilla extract.
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Step 4:
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Place the oats back into the large mixing bowl and add; Rice cereal, wheat germ, pecan pieces and sliced almonds and toss together.
Step 5:
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Pour the heated brown sugar syrup mixture over the oat mixture and stir until all the oat mixture is coated.
Step 6:
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On a 1/2 baking sheet and a piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil sprayed with cooking spray.
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Step 7:
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Scoop the coated oat mixture onto the foil lined 1/2 baking sheet and press the mixture down with a non-stick spatula and bake 25 minutes until golden brown.
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Step 8:
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Allow the granola to cool slightly and cut into bars, dip each bar into melted chocolate chips and set on wax paper until chocolate is firm and enjoy! They will store in an airtight container for a few days.
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I looked at many granola bar recipes some said they were soft but basically they all had about the same ingredients so, I decided to adapted this recipe from Food Network Ree Drummond. I thought it made the best ingredient choices and I like how they turned out.
Enjoy!
Lindy
