Homemade Bars – toasted + golden to perfection!
These homemade bars are as good as they look, needless to say my family finished off half of them within 24 hours of being out of the oven! They are super simple, quick to make and easily customized. They make the perfect breakfast, afternoon snack, dessert or treat to taking picnicking or camping. These bars are gluten free and can be easily made dairy free, just omit the chocolate chips. They can be made vegan by omitting the honey and opting for maple syrup only and again by omitting the chocolate chips.
Here’s what you’ll need and how to make them!
Santa Barbara Bars
[Makes 16 bars ]
Ingredients
- 2 cups oatmeal
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 1/4 cup pitted/chopped dates
- 1/2 cup dried/chopped apricots
- 1/2 cup dried/chopped cherries
- 1/2 cup dried/chopped cranberries
- 1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- 3 tbsp coconut oil
- 2/3 cup honey
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spices
Supplies
- standard cookie sheet
- 8″x12″ baking pan
- parchment paper
- measuring cups
- teaspoon
- tablespoon
Preheat oven to 350 F. On a cookie sheet, mix together oatmeal, almonds, and coconut, shake the sheet so they are evenly covering the bottom. Bake for 10-15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Once toasted + golden, remove from oven and lower temperature to 300 F.
Grease the 8″x12″ baking pan with coconut oil and line with parchment paper. Add the toasted ingredients, the chopped dates, apricots, cherries and cranberries. Mix toasted ingredients and dried fruit together and spread evenly in the baking pan.
In a small sauce pan, add coconut oil, honey, maple syrup, vanilla extract, brown sugar, salt, and spices. Bring the mixture to a boil on medium heat, stirring for one minute. Pour over mixed ingredients in the baking pan and use a spoon to stir all together. Gently press mixture down into the pan with the back of the spoon. Enter phase chocolate, sprinkle your chocolate chips generously over the top so they get all melty and yummy in the oven!
Bake at 300 F for 30 minutes or until toasted + golden. Let cool for a few hours and then cut in 4 by 4 rows for 16 delicious bars! Bon appétit!
