Cranberry Nut Granola Bars Recipe
Delicious and wholesome Cranberry Nut Granola Bars that combine rolled oats, nuts, and dried cranberries bound together with honey and almond butter. Perfect as a healthy snack or breakfast on-the-go, these bars bake to a golden-brown perfection with a chewy texture and satisfying crunch.
- Author: Ava
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts, or your choice)
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1/4 cup almond butter or peanut butter
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Preparation: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal of the granola bars later.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, chopped nuts, dried cranberries, and salt. Stir well to evenly distribute the ingredients.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a smaller bowl, whisk together the honey or maple syrup, almond butter or peanut butter, and vanilla extract until smooth and fully combined.
- Combine Mixtures: Pour the wet mixture over the dry ingredients, mixing thoroughly to ensure all the dry ingredients are evenly coated and sticky.
- Press Mixture: Transfer the combined mixture to the prepared baking dish. Use a spatula or your hands to press the mixture down firmly and evenly to form a compact layer.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the edges start to turn a golden brown color.
- Cool: Remove the baked granola from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes to set.
- Cut Bars: Use the parchment paper overhang to lift the granola slab out of the baking dish onto a cutting board. Cut into bars or squares of your preferred size.
Notes
- You can substitute dried cranberries with raisins or chopped dates according to your preference.
- Feel free to mix and match nuts such as almonds, walnuts, pecans, or cashews based on availability and taste.
- For a vegan option, use maple syrup instead of honey.
- Store the granola bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- Pressing the mixture firmly before baking helps the bars hold together better after baking.
Keywords: granola bars, cranberry nut bars, healthy snack, baked granola, oat bars, homemade granola bars, easy snack