Cranberry Pumpkin Seed Energy Bars

By á-174535

Save money at the store with these wonderful DIY energy bars made with pumpkin seeds, cranberries, pecans, rolled oats, flaxseeds, honey, and rice cereal.

Ingredients

• 1 cup pecans, crushed
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1/4 cup flaxseeds
• 2/3 cup muscovado or dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup honey
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups puffed rice cereal
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the pecans, oats, pumpkin seeds and flaxseeds on the sheet and bake until fragrant, 8 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl.

In a saucepan, bring the sugar, honey, butter and salt to a boil over moderate heat. Simmer until the sugar is dissolved and a light brown caramel forms, 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.

Drizzle the caramel all over the nut-and-oat mixture. Stir in the puffed rice and cranberries until evenly coated.

Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper, extending the paper over the side. Scrape the cereal mixture into the dish in an even layer. Cover the mixture with a second sheet of parchment and press down to compress it. Let stand until firm, about 2 hours.

Discard the top piece of parchment. Using the overhanging paper, lift out the cereal square and transfer it to a work surface. Cut into 12 bars and serve.