Description
Crunchy Granola Heart Bars are a delightful homemade snack combining toasted oats and almonds with a sweet honey-coconut oil blend. Baked to golden perfection, these bars are topped with a drizzle of rich dark chocolate and a sprinkle of dried cranberries for a touch of tartness and elegance. Perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth with wholesome ingredients, these bars make a nutritious and tasty treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup almonds, chopped
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate, melted
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the rolled oats and chopped almonds evenly to distribute the nuts throughout the oats.
- Heat Wet Ingredients: In a small saucepan over low heat, gently heat the honey and melted coconut oil until they combine smoothly. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and salt for flavor.
- Mix Ingredients: Pour the warm honey and coconut oil mixture over the oats and almonds. Stir thoroughly to coat all the dry ingredients with the honey mixture for even sweetness and binding.
- Form Bars: Transfer the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and press it down firmly with a spatula or your hands to create an even layer.
- Bake: Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the mixture turns golden brown and fragrant.
- Cool: Remove from the oven and let the granola mixture cool completely on the baking sheet so it hardens into bars.
- Cut Shapes: Once cooled and firm, use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut the granola into individual bars.
- Add Toppings: Drizzle the melted dark chocolate over the granola heart bars and sprinkle with chopped dried cranberries for a decorative and flavorful finish.
Notes
- Make sure the granola mixture is completely cooled before cutting to avoid crumbling.
- You can substitute almonds with other nuts like walnuts or pecans as desired.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- For a vegan version, substitute honey with maple syrup or agave nectar.
- The dried cranberries can be replaced with other dried fruits like raisins or chopped apricots.
