Once you make your own granola bars, you won’t like the packaged variety anymore! They are full of flavour and so satisfying. They are just as perfect for a quick breakfast as for an afternoon or evening snack. Full of flavour and packed with nutritious ingredients, those bars are the real deal!

What I love about making your own granola bars is that you can put in it whatever you like or have on hand. This recipe is really more of a guideline, use whichever kind of nuts, seeds or dried fruit you wish! I used pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries because I think the red and green colours are so pretty.

Granola bars

2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup roasted pumpkin seeds
3/4 cups dried cranberries
1 cup unsweetened shredded or flaked coconut
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
scant 2/3 cup raw, unpasteurized honey
inside of 1/2 vanilla bean
3 tbsp unsalted butter

Instructions

Mix the oats, coconut and walnuts on a baking sheet and bake on 350 degrees for about 10-15 minutes, or until lightly browned and fragrant.
Combine the honey, butter and the inside of the vanilla bean in a pot and bring to a boil. Take off the heat and mix with the rest of the ingredients.
Line a 9 x 9 baking dish with parchment paper and spread the mixture in the dish. Press down firmly.
Bake for 25 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool for a few hours before cutting!