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Chewy Granola Bars Recipe with Sweet Dried Fruit

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A quick and easy homemade snack featuring chewy oats, sweet dried fruit, nuts, and honey, perfect for on-the-go or lunchboxes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (180g)
  • 1 cup mixed nuts, chopped (walnuts, almonds, or pecans) (120g)
  • ½ cup honey (170g)
  • ¼ cup brown sugar (50g)
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted (56g)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup sweet dried fruit, chopped finely (apricots, cherries, cranberries) (150g)
  • Optional: 2 tablespoons chia seeds or flaxseeds

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread oats and chopped nuts evenly on a baking sheet and toast for about 10 minutes, stirring halfway through, until golden and fragrant.
  2. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in honey and brown sugar until dissolved and bubbling gently (2-3 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and salt.
  3. Transfer toasted oats and nuts to a large mixing bowl. Add finely chopped dried fruit and optional chia seeds. Pour wet mixture over and mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon until sticky but manageable.
  4. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal. Transfer mixture into pan and press down firmly with a spatula or dampened hands to compact evenly.
  5. Bake for 15-18 minutes until edges turn golden but bars remain chewy. Avoid overbaking.
  6. Remove from oven and cool completely in pan on a wire rack (1-2 hours). Lift out using parchment overhang and slice into bars or squares with a sharp knife. Warm knife slightly or wipe between slices for cleaner cuts.

Notes

Toast oats and nuts to enhance flavor. Chop dried fruit finely to prevent bars from crumbling. Press mixture firmly into pan before baking. Avoid overbaking to keep chewy texture. Let bars cool completely before slicing. For better binding, add an extra tablespoon of honey if bars seem crumbly. Bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week or frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: granola bars, chewy granola bars, homemade snack, dried fruit bars, healthy snack, easy granola bars, no bake snack, gluten-free granola bars

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