These are granola bars number four and probably the best yet. The binding ingredient is applesauce and it adds a degree of sweetness but I still added some honey though not as much as in the base recipe I found at Brown Eyed Baker. These bars have stayed together well after baking and cooling and are moist and tasty as well as healthy. I have been enjoying having my own granola bars for morning teas at work and like knowing what is in them. Adriano and Dario are also now shunning the store bought ones in favour of these.
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Almond, cranberry and apple sauce granola bars
Ingredients:
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup honey
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
2½ cups rolled oats
1 cup chopped almonds, cashew nuts, sunflower seeds and walnuts
1/3 cup chopped dried apricots and dried cherries
1/3 cup chopped dried dates and cranberries
1/3 cup raisins
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with baking paper.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the honey, applesauce, cinnamon and vanilla extract. Stir in the oats, making sure that it is evenly mixed and all of the oats are moistened. Mix in the nuts and dried fruit.
3. Turn the mixture out into the baking pan and press into the pan, making sure it is evenly distributed and tightly packed.
4. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool. Remove from the pan and cut into bars. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
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These bars look scrumptious! What a combination of great flavors.
They did turn out well and you can really put any combination of flavours in them as long as you keep the correct proportion of wet to dry.
Suzanne
this bars look stunning! I love making my own bars too, but get fed-up everytime it falls apart when I cut them. what’s your secret in keeping them intact? I’ve tried Brown Eyed Baker’s basic recipe too, but I can’t get applesauce where I live, unless I make them myself.
You do have to let them set well and cut with a hot sharp knife. I have made some that fell apart but also some that don’t. The ones that use dates whizzed in the food processor seem to hold together because the dates are stick. I saw a similar bar on your blog. The ones I made with pumpkin puree worked out well too. Mashed banana should be a good substitute for applesauce.
Suzanne
Thanks for your fast reply and great tips! will give the bars another try.
Lovely work, Suzanne! Would you be happy to link it in to the current Food on Friday which is creating a collection of recipes using apricots or nectarines? This is the link . I do hope to see you there. There are already quite a lot of links for you to check out. Cheers
Does this call for one cup of EACH of the types of nuts or one cup total?
“1 cup chopped almonds, cashew nuts, sunflower seeds and walnuts”
Thank you kindly 🙂
One cup total in any proportions you prefer. This was a very good granola bar. Enjoy.