Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola Bars

By heathaly

Ingredients

• Rolled oats, 2 cups
• Sunflower seeds, 1 cup
• Raw almonds, 1 cup, semi crushed
• Dried cherries, 1 cup, organic if available
• Mini dark chocolate chips, 2/3 cup, 70% cacao
• Brown rice syrup, 1/4 cup
• Raw honey, 2 tbsp
• Butter, 1 tbsp

Details

Preparation time 10mins
Cooking time 130mins
Adapted from healthnutfoodie.blogspot.com

Preparation

Step 1

Butter a piece of wax paper large enough to line an 8 x 8 inch glass baking dish, and place in 8 x 8 dish (so you will neatly be able to remove granola bars from dish).

Combine first 5 ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

Heat butter, brown rice syrup, and raw honey in a small saucepan over medium low heat. Stir for about five minutes (this will help remove the rice flavor from the rice syrup). Remove from heat and let cool for about one minute.

Pour syrup over dry ingredients. Using clean hands, toss until thoroughly combined.

Pour granola into prepared baking dish.

Use an additional piece of wax paper to press granola tightly into dish (so the granola doesn't stick to your hands).

Let granola bars completely cool (at least two hours). Use a heavy chef's knife to cut them into 16 squares. Store tightly covered for up to 10 days (or maybe longer, ours are always gone by then).