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Chewy Peanut-Free Trail Mix Granola Bars

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These chewy peanut-free trail mix granola bars are a wholesome, allergy-friendly snack packed with oats, seeds, dried fruit, and a hint of honey sweetness. Perfect for on-the-go energy and easy to customize.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats (about 225g)
  • ¼ cup brown rice syrup (60ml)
  • ⅓ cup honey (113g)
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted (56g)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ cup hulled sunflower seeds (70g)
  • ½ cup pumpkin seeds (70g)
  • ¾ cup dried cranberries (90g)
  • ½ cup chopped dried apricots (65g)
  • ⅓ cup mini dark chocolate chips (60g) – optional
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • Pinch of sea salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides for easy removal.
  2. Toast the oats, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds on a baking sheet in the oven for about 10 minutes, stirring halfway through, until lightly golden and fragrant.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the toasted oats and seeds with cinnamon, sea salt, dried cranberries, chopped apricots, and optional dark chocolate chips. Stir gently to distribute evenly.
  4. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the melted butter, brown rice syrup, honey, and vanilla extract until smooth and warm but not hot.
  5. Pour the wet mixture over the dry ingredients and fold with a spatula or wooden spoon until all ingredients are thoroughly coated and sticky.
  6. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan. Use parchment or wax paper on top and press firmly to compact the mixture evenly and tightly.
  7. Bake for 18-20 minutes until edges are golden and center is set but still soft to the touch. Avoid overbaking.
  8. Cool completely on a wire rack, about 1 hour. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up further.
  9. Using the parchment overhang, lift the slab out and slice into 12 bars with a sharp knife.

Notes

Toast oats and seeds to enhance flavor and crunch. Use a combination of brown rice syrup and honey for the perfect chewy texture. Press mixture firmly into the pan to help bars hold together. Slightly underbake to keep bars soft. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage. For dairy-free, substitute butter with coconut oil and honey with maple syrup.

Nutrition

Keywords: granola bars, peanut-free, trail mix, chewy granola bars, homemade snack, allergy-friendly, healthy snack

Find it online: https://zorbmeal.com/chewy-peanut-free-trail-mix-granola-bars-recipe-easy-homemade-snack-recipe/