Fall Harvest Granola Bars

What did I ever talk about before I started a kitchen remodeling project?  Two weeks into this massive project and I can officially say that it's consumed my life. 🤣I think about my kitchen all day - every day.  I've even started dreaming about my new kitchen.  No joke.  😅  The other night I had a dream that I forgot to put shelves in the new pantry.  

So today, I'm giving you - and me - a much needed break from all the kitchen talk.  There will be no pictures of cabinet hardware, floating shelves or knife block discussions on today's blog.  I'm choosing to focus on the delicious food that I will soon be able to make in my new and improved kitchen.  Oops, I did it again.   🤦🏻‍♀️

I don't know if this happens to other people, but I've spent way too many hours standing in the granola bar aisle of the grocery store, comparing brands.  If you've ever looked at the nutritional information on a box of granola bars, you know that they can range from a fancy rice cake to candy bar status.  🍫 I love a good granola bar loaded with chocolate chips but if Im going to eat something chocolatey with 14 grams of fat - I'm going to go all in and eat a snickers bar. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Making homemade granola bars is really the only way that I can know exactly what goes into my favorite snack.  Being able to choose all of the ingredients and having control over the sweetness is ideal and it's actually way easier than you think to make granola bars at home.  Fall Harvest Granola Bars are the perfect no-bake, energy boosting snack that everyone in your house will love.  

Fall Harvest Granola Bars
2 cups old-fashioned oats 
1 cup whole almonds, roughly chopped
½ cup pumpkin seeds
1 cup packed pitted Medjool dates
⅓ cup maple syrup
¼ cup creamy almond butter
½ cup dried cherries
¼ teaspoon salt

Toast oats, almonds and pumpkin seeds on a baking sheet for 12 minutes at 350.

Chop dates in a food processor until a rough paste. 

Add to a bowl with the oats and nuts. 

Warm maple syrup and almond butter in saucepan.  

Add to bowl. 

Stir in cherries. 

Scoop into an 8x8" square pan with a parchment sling.   Freeze 20 minutes. 

Remove bars with sling. 

Cut into 16 bars. 

You have full permission to take this recipe and make it your own.  Customize it with your favorite nuts, fruits, nut butter and oats.  Then send me a picture of your creation, of course.  I'd love to see what kinds granola bars you make too.  

​Ciao!

Click here for a printable version of this recipe