About this Recipe

This recipe is for those that want to know exactly what is going into their granola bars. There is very little sweetener in this recipe and some may not find it sweet enough. This is a very satisfying granola bar loaded with high-energy goodies. Granola bars are a convenient snack food that is popular in lunches, on hikes or when travelling. This recipe is very quick to make and you can do substitutions very easily to customize it to your own tastes.

Grandmother's Kitchen Tips for Chocolate Raisin Granola Bars:

1. The raisins must be soft. We like to use a 2 cup glass measuring cup, place the raisins to the 1 cup mark and pour the boiled water over the raisins, just to the point where they are covered. This seems to be a perfect ratio when you puree the raisins.

2. This is not a very sweet granola bar and for those that want it sweeter, you could add a cup of chocolate chips to the recipe, and/or 1/2 cup honey or sugar.

3. These granola bars keep well in a sealed container either refrigerated or frozen.

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Ingredients

(Print)

Makes 1 8x8 or 9x9 pan size

1 cup raisins - softened in boiling water

1/4 cup pure virgin coconut oil at room temperature (or you can substitute 1/4 cup butter at room temperature)

1/3 cup cacao powder

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup raw sunflower seeds

2 cups quick oat flakes

1/2 cup almond flour

1 Tablespoon chia seeds

1/2 cup unsweetened fine coconut

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/4 teaspoon Himalayan sea salt

* Note: For those that want it sweeter, you could always add 1/2 cup of sugar or honey to the recipe.

Directions

1. Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Boil about a cup of water. Place the raisins into a 2 cup measuring cup and pour the boiled water over the raisins, using just enough water to cover the raisins. Let them sit about 10 minutes until they are softened.

3. Place the raisins and water into a food processor, add the coconut oil, cacao powder and vanilla and whiz until combined into a creamy pulp

4. Place the remaining dry ingredients into another bowl and stir with a rubber spatula to combine.

5. Pour in the raisin mixture and stir in with a rubber spatula until the mixture is well combined.

6. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Press down with the spatula and your fingertips until the granola bar mixture is flattened down firmly and evenly in the pan.

7. Place into the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool to room temperature. Remove from the pan and slice the bars into pieces.

You can keep the bars in a container with a lid. They will stay fresh refrigerated for about a week or you can freeze the bars and they will freeze well up to 3 months.

ENJOY!

When making a recipe like this one, to get the highest nutritional value you can; choose the most natural products you can afford.

Use raw sunflower seeds, not toasted, Use natural organic coconut flakes rather than processed sweetened coconut. You can make your own almond flour by grinding raw almonds in a processor.

Cranberries are a super-food and are high in antioxidants and vitamin C. Sneaking these berries into more foods you eat is beneficial.