Chewy Fruit & Flax Granola Bars

By jeknudson

Loaded with nutrition from whole grains, flax, and dried fruit, the good-for-you granola bars in this recipe bake up to a chewy perfection in your oven.

Ingredients

• 4 cups old fashioned oatmeal
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1 cup chopped dates
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 1/4 cup whole flax seeds*
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/3 cup canola or vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup (2 oz.) AllWhites® (egg whites)

Details

Servings 36
Preparation time 10mins
Cooking time 24mins

Preparation

Step 1

Heat oven to 325°F. Grease or spray 15x10x1-inch or 16x12x1-inch baking pan. In large bowl, stir together oatmeal, whole wheat flour, cranberries, dates, brown sugar, almonds, flax seeds, baking soda and salt. Stir in honey, canola oil and AllWhites until dry mixture is completely moist and coated.

Firmly press mixture into prepared baking pan using a rubber spatula or palm of your hand. (Mixture will be sticky; use a light dusting of flour on your hand if needed). Bake 14 to 16 minutes or until bars are a light golden brown. Cool completely.

Cut into 36 (6 crosswise x 6 lengthwise). For on-the-go bars, wrap individual bar tightly with plastic wrap. Store bars in an airtight container.

Tips:
*Whole flax seeds can be purchased in the baking aisle or organic/health section of your grocery store. For added health benefits, the flax seeds can be ground.
**If desired substitute 1/4 cup Better'n Eggs®