Sweet + Salty Apple Cinnamon Granola Bars

Did you have granola bars in your lunchbox growing up? I don’t recall having too many, likely because my mom knew they were really filled with not so good for you things. I always had a thing for the sweet and salty ones though, and loved when I could my hands on one at a friend’s house. So I went I set out to create this recipe for our Back to School week, I knew I wanted the bar to have that flavor profile. Luckily a little honey and sea salt does the trick. It’s the perfect compliment against the apples, almonds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, and everything else that’s packed into this bar. Though I’m no longer in school, I always need something to nosh on between lunch and dinner (at approximately 3 pm). If I eat a cupcake I will want to fall asleep at approximately 3:30 pm. Not good. So a granola bar like this is my happy medium. If you’ve never made them at home you’re going to wonder why you never did before because they are so incredible easy! And speaking of ease, when it comes to buying ingredients for your bars, my  how to post on shopping the bulk bins in grocery stores is a must.

Ps: Even though I’ll have lots of good new fall recipes on the site in the coming months, there are so many good ones buried in our archives! Everyday for the next few weeks I’ll be featuring an oldie but a goodie CC fall recipe over on our Facebook page. It’ll be fun! Come join us.

Sweet & Salty Apple Cinnamon Granola Bars
Makes about 16 small square bars

• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup whole raw almonds
• 3/4 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1/3 cup ground flax seed
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1 1/2 cups dried apples
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.

In a food processor combine 1 cup of the oats and about 3/4 cup of the almonds (you can estimate this). Pulse until the almonds and oats are broken up into small pieces. Pour into a large bowl, and add in remaining oats and almonds, as well as the pumpkin seeds, flax seed, and chia seeds. Add the dried apples to the food processor and blend until the apples are broken up into small chunks. Place apples in the same bowl, along with the cinnamon and salt. Stir well to combine.

Set a small sauce pan to medium heat. Place the coconut oil, honey, and vanilla in the pan and heat until it begins to foam. Once it’s foaming, cook for an additional 15 seconds. Remove the mixture from the heat. Pour it into the dry ingredients and stir well until every ingredient is coats.

Pour the mixture into the pan and press until flat. Chill in the fridge overnight. Cut into bars and serve immediately or store wrapped in wax paper or ziploc bags. Bars will last up to one week in fridge.