Homemade Chewy Granola Bars

Whip up these easy chewy granola bars for a good-for-you homemade snack or pack into your kid's lunch. These healthy, preservative-free bars are your go-to nutrition companion to fuel your day. Watch how it is made here >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CYt-AN3feY

1 2/3 cup rolled oats (toasted, see note below)

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup oat flour (or 1/3 cup oats, processed until finely ground in a food processor)

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1 cup dried fruit (cranberries, blueberries, apricots, dates, raisins, etc.)

1 cup toasted slivered almonds, pecans or walnuts

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup Blood Orange Olive Oil

1 egg, beaten

1/4 cup local honey

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line the bottom of a 7 x 10-inch pan (eighth sheet sized pan) with parchment paper.

On a baking pan, add nuts and spread out in a thin layer. Bake for five minutes till lightly toasted. Set aside and let cool.

Stir together all the dry ingredients, including the fruit and nuts. For the best texture and easiest cutting, make sure to finely chop the fruit and nuts into uniform pieces if using larger fruit like apricots, figs or dates.

In a separate bowl, whisk the egg, vanilla, honey and Blood Orange Olive Oil. Toss the wet ingredients together with the dry and mix thoroughly. Spread into the prepared pan and pat down gently. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown around the edges. When they come out of the oven, let cool for about five minutes. Score the bars with a knife while still warm in the size that you want them. Allow to cool completely and cut all the way through. This just gives the bars a cleaner edge.

Store in an airtight container and separate layers with parchment paper so they don't stick.