I’ve been a single girl for the last four days. I hated it. I wanted my man back every minute of every day. He was away training, and we missed him like crazy! (Plus it really makes me realize how much cleaning he really does do! :P) I’m just so happy to have him home! 🙂 Oh my goodness..Fun Fact: 6 weeks until my little man turns ONE! Eeks! Time to start party planning!
So I made these granola bars before my fiance left so he would have some snacks that could hold him over, plus I absolutely love them..this was my second time making these..the first time, they were eaten out of the pan in less than 24 hours…you should have seen us standing at the counter shoveling our faces…yah. They’re that good! 🙂
I adapted these from Iowa Girl Eats…and she completely said it best when she said, “These are the most addictive thing to come out of my kitchen…” And I must agree…as of late, they most definitely are. Last week I was lucky enough to be able to try some of Swanson Health Products, Coconut Oil..the fabulous people over there sent me some to try out! This coconut oil is 100% organic, and full of nutritious goodness..it is perfect for a low carb diet! (Plus the price is so right!) The coconut oil really came through in these bars! You could smell, and taste it just subtly enough to know its there, but perfect enough to give it a great flavor! I can’t wait to try it out in other places…smoothies, to replace butter, or even as lotion for my super dry wintery skin!
These Cranberry Almond Granola Bars are so good for you, between all the nuts, the oats, and the coconut oil..they’re healthy, they will hold you over for hours, and you can feel guiltless about eating them! They smell as good as they taste, with the refreshing coconut, the nutty mix, and the sweet cranberries..mm pure bliss! You won’t be able to stop making these either..and you shouldn’t! Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole almonds, divided
- 1 cup pecans, divided
- 1 cup unsalted peanuts, divided
- 1 cup old fashioned oats, divided
- 1/4 cup shredded coconut
- 1 cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup honey
- 3 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Directions
- In a food processor, add 1/2 a cup each of the almonds, pecans, peanuts, and oats. Pulse until it turns into a fine powder, pour into a bowl.
- Roughly chop what you have left of the almonds, pecans, peanuts, and the cranberries. Add to the bowl.
- Add the remaining old fashioned oats and shredded coconut.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the honey, coconut oil, salt, vanilla, almond extract, and the cinnamon.
- Stir until the mixture melts, then comes to a foam. Cook for another 15-20 seconds while foaming, pour over the nut mixture, and mix to coat thoroughly.
- Line a jelly roll pan with plastic wrap, allowing it to hang over both sides. Pour in the granola.
- Press down extremely hard, (like body weight hard!) with your hands or a flat bottomed surface (The key to it becoming bars and not staying fall-apart granola, is pushing down really hard.)
- Pull the plastic wrap up over the sides and cover.
- Refrigerate for four hours
- Cut with a sharp knife, and store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Notes
Adapted From: Iowa Girl Eats
