So-Cal University Girl's Granola Bars

I adapted a few granola bars to fit my needs as a short-on-cash college kid. They're easy to adapt to what you have in your pantry and perfect to store individually for a healthy grab-and-go snack! Using dried cherries gives the bars a tarty edge! I recommend cutting bars and storing in refrigerator wrapped individually for grab-and-go snacking.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 25 mins
• Total Time: 40 mins
• Calories: 138 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ cup chopped pecans
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ cup honey
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ¾ cup applesauce
• ½ cup crispy rice cereal
• cooking spray
• ¼ cup flax seeds
• 1 ½ cups quick-cooking oats
• ½ cup chocolate chips (Optional)
• 1 cup almond flour
• ¾ cup chopped dried mixed fruit
• 1 tablespoon instant coffee granules, or more to taste (Optional)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.

Step 2

Mix oats, almond flour, dried fruit, rice cereal, brown sugar, pecans, chocolate chips, flax seeds, instant coffee granules, and cinnamon in a large bowl.

Step 3

Whisk applesauce, honey, egg, and vanilla extract in a small bowl; pour into oat mixture. Stir until evenly incorporated. Press batter into prepared baking dish.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven until edges are golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely before cutting into granola bars.