healthy granola bars [clean eating]

Today, my excitement for healthy cooking is back with a vengeance. I focused on a recipe makeover, taking Barefoot Contessa’s recipe for homemade granola bars, and turning them into healthy clean-eating granola bars. The result is sweet and nutty granola bars that are moist with a slight crunch and taste delicious. No lack of flavor in these bars. Amazing how you can eliminate ingredients that contain fat and sugar from your diet and not even miss them.

Healthy Granola Bars [Clean Eating]

Adapted from Barefoot Contessa Homemade Granola Bars Servings: 12

Ingredients:

• 2 cups organic old fashioned whole grain rolled oats (Bob’s Red Mill)
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds, natural unsalted
• ¼ cup sunflower seeds
• 1 cup shredded coconut, loosely packed
• 1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
• 3 tablespoons coconut oil
• 2/3 cup raw natural honey
• 3 teaspoons stevia in the raw 
• 1 1/2 teaspoons organic pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon grey sea salt
• 1/2 cup chopped pitted dates
• 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• cooking spray

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8 by 12-inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper.

Toss the oatmeal, almonds, sunflower seeds, and coconut together on a baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl and stir in the wheat germ.

reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F.

Place the coconut oil, honey, stevia, vanilla, and salt in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and pour over the toasted oatmeal mixture. Add the dates, apricots, and cranberries and stir well, ensuring that all of the ingredients are moist.

Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Wet your fingers and lightly press the mixture evenly into the pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until light golden brown. Cool for at least 2 to 3 hours before cutting into squares. Serve at room temperature or refrigerate.

BEFORE:
Calories 260
Calories from Fat 94
Saturated Fat 4.3g
Cholesterol 8mg
Sodium 75mg
Total Carbohydrates 39.6g
Dietary Fiber 4.6g
Sugars 25.2g
Protein 5.4g

AFTER:
Calories 194
Calories from Fat 88
Saturated Fat 5.4g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 12mg
Total Carbohydrates 22.9g
Dietary Fiber 4.4g
Sugars 7.7g
Protein 5.3g