Editors Note: Ok, so this Cascadian Farm's blog. And we sell granola bars. They're reeeeeally good too. Conventional wisdom tells us that we shouldn't encourage people to make their own granola bars...but when Shaina sent this recipe, it looked too good not to share. So there you are. We know you'll love these, so...enjoy! -CF
As the winter sun melts the snow and the birds start to return, it marks the time of year where activities transition from indoors to the outdoors again. And as I dream of once again running in the grass, the maple sap starts to run in the maple trees.
It's the sugaring season, and as the temperature rises, so does the sap in the maple trees, making it prime for the taping. After it is boiled, it finds its way into baked goods and gets poured over pancakes and signals the return of warm weather.
For our family, the change in the weather means we need our food to be portable. What better traveling snack than a granola bar? Packed with fruit and nuts and kissed with maple, these tasty little treats travel well, on a hike, canoeing, biking, on a trip to the park to fly a kite or, dare I say it, to the beach. (Is there really such a thing? I've forgotten after all the snow.)
Chewy Maple Sugar Granola Bars
2 cups quick rolled oats
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup pecans and/or almonds
1 cup dried fruit (cranberries, apricots, cherries and/or blueberries)
6 tablespoons melted butter
6 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons honey or agave syrup
1 tablespoon water
Heat oven to 350º F. Generously grease an 8"x8" pan or line with parchment paper. Mix together oats, sugar, flour, salt, nuts and fruit. In a separate bowl mix together the butter, syrup, honey and water. Combine the dry and wet ingredients, stirring well until thoroughly mixed.
Using the back of a spoon, press the mixture firmly to the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake at 350º F for 30-40 minutes until the top starts to brown. Remove from oven and cool completely. Cut into bars. Store in an airtight container until ready to eat.
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