Granola bars with oats, seeds and fruit on a metal cooling rack

Granola Bar

A great on-the-go snack!
Total Time: 35 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Keyword: Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 10

Ingredients

  • 40 g butter (or dairy-free alternative or coconut oil)
  • 1 tbsp honey (or syrup such as maple or agave)
  • ½ tsp vanilla bean paste
  • 4 medjool dates (pitted and chopped)
  • 1 overripe banana (large, peeled, mashed)
  • ½ – 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 200 g oats
  • 30 g pumpkin seeds
  • 120 g mixed nuts (we used equal amounts of cashew, walnuts and almonds)
  • 40 g raisins
  • 40 g dried figs (chopped)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 180°C/ 160°C fan/ Gas 4. Line a 8×10 inch baking tin (or similar) with greaseproof paper and set aside.
  • In a large pan add the butter, honey, vanilla bean paste and dates and warm over a low heat.
  • As the pan heats using the back of a wooden spoon squash the dates into a rough paste.
  • Once the butter has melted remove from the heat.
  • Add and stir in the mashed banana and cinnamon.
  • Add the oats to the pan and stir in well ensuring they are all coated.
  • Add the pumpkin seeds, nuts, raisins and figs and incorporate the ingredients evenly through the mixture.
  • Transfer the mixture to the lined baking tin. Evenly spread out the mixture over the bottom of the tin and press down to compact the granola mixture.
  • Place into the oven on the middle shelve for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.
  • Remove from the oven and set aside to cool in the tin.
  • Once cool, removed from the tin and slice into even portions.
  • Enjoy with a cuppa! 

Storage

  • Keep in an airtight container, in the fridge for up to 3 days, or alternatively, freeze for up to 3 months. Freeze individually in greaseproof paper or clingfilm. Remove from the fridge or freeze beforehand and allow to come to room temperature.

Tips

  • Only roughly chop the nuts leaving some large chunks and some whole nuts, this will give the granola bars a nice texture.
  • If you make these often mix up the combination of nuts, seeds and dried fruit you use for variety.

Warning

  • These are not suitable for children under 5 due to the presence of large nuts.
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