Everything Granola Bars

This is the top looking down and this is about 5 bars as it is quite thick! :) Enjoy

So, I go through a lot of granola bars in my house and I am always on the hunt for new ones, yummy ones, chewy ones, gooey ones, crunchy ones and so on and so on. I came across a recipe on pinterest (my new found social network, lol) for granola bars but it is one recipe that can be made TONS of different ways. I will share the recipe then I will share how I made it.

The kids and the hubs LOVED mine so I may try them again. The recipe says it makes 8-12 bars but if it is only 8-12 bars that would mean the bars are HUGE so I cut them into 24 bars and they work out to be about 4 weight watchers points each and oh so yummy!!!

Basic Granola Bar Formula

1. Rolled Grains (2½ cups)
Suggestions: Oats, Rye flakes, Barley flakes, etc.

2. Nuts, Seeds & Spices (1 cup)
Suggestions: Almonds, Walnuts, Pecans, Pistachios, Sunflower Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Cinnamon, Ginger, etc.

3. Sticky Sweetener (1/3 cup + ¼ cup)
Suggestions: Honey, Agave Nectar, Molasses, Maple Syrup

4. Dried Fruits (1 cup)
Suggestions: Raisins, Apricots, Dates, Figs, Prunes, Cranberries, Pineapple, etc.

5. Binder (1 cup)
Suggestions: Pureed Dried Fruit, Apple Butter, Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, Unsweetened applesauce, etc.

Everything Granola Bars

Yield: 8 to 12 bars, depending on how large you cut them (24 for me)

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Bake Time: 25 minutes (I let the kids measure and stir)

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce & 1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 + ¼ cup honey
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
1½ cups rolled oats & 1 cup barley flakes

1 cup chopped almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and flax seed (NOT 1 cup of each, I simply filled up a cup with a combination of everything listed above)

1 cup raisins, craisins and chocolate chips (NOT 1 cup of each, same as above)

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment 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 almonds, figs, dates and raisins.

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 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool in the freezer until the bars are firm, at least 1 hour. Remove from the pan and cut into bars. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

RECIPE FOUND ON http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2011/03/01/fig-date-almond-granola-bars/