Gone are the days of buying granola bars after you try one of these babies…
1/2 Cup whole raw almonds
1/2 Cup raw cashews
1/3 Cup raw pumpkin seeds
1/4 Cup raw sunflower seeds or sesame seeds
2 Tbsp whole flaxseeds
Roast the above nuts ‘n seeds in the oven at 300 degrees stirring here and there for about 15 minutes. Once cooled transfer to a food processor and pulse till finely chopped, only about 5 pulses. Transfer to a bowl.
1 Tbsp ground flaxseeds
3/4 Cup chopped pitted dates
1/4 Cup warm water
2 Tbsp maple syrup
1/2 tsp grated orange or lemon zest
1/2 tsp salt
Put 1/2 cup of the chopped dates in the bowl with the nuts. Put the rest of the above ingredients (including the 1/4 cup of chopped dates) in the now empty food processor and process until smooth.
Mix everything together in the bowl.
Prepare a 8×8″ baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil (this is really important!) Lay 2 sheets of parchment going each direction so you’ll be able to lift the squares out of the pan. Spread the nutty mixture in the prepared pan and press it down well.
Bake bars at 300 degrees until lightly golden about 20 minutes, rotating 1/2 way. Remove from the oven and let cool for 15 minutes. Then lift the bars out onto a cutting board. Cut into 10 bars or whatever you like and space them out on the parchment, but now on a bigger cookie tray so they’re not touching. Bake again for 15 – 20 minutes. Let them cool down on a wire rack for an hour then they’re ready to eat! Store on the counter for 1 week if they make it or hide them in the freezer 😉
