Vanilla Bean Cherry Granola Bars
By: Munchin with Mu...
Published: Thursday, April 21, 2011 - 9:34pm

Ingredients




3/4 cup un-sweetened organic apple sauce
2 tablespoons agave nectar
1/2 cup almond butter
1 whole vanilla bean
1 cup old fashioned oats
1 cup brown rice cereal
1/2 cup millet
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup flax seeds
1/4 cup unsalted sunflower seeds
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preparation

1 Preheat oven to 350 2 Line an 8×8 inch baking dish with parchment paper, allowing it to hang off the side. Spray with cooking oil. Set aside. 3 Slice vanilla bean down the center and using a spoon scrape out the inside. Place the scrapings in a medium bowl, discard bean. Add apple sauce, agave nectar, and almond butter stirring well to combine. Set aside. 4 In a large bowl combine, oats, rice cereal, millet, almonds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, dried cherries, chocolate chips and salt. 5 Add reserved apple sauce mixture to oat mixture and stir to combine. 6 Pour mixture into reserved baking dish and press so it is even and flat. 7 Bake for 20 – 25 minutes, until lightly browned. Allow to cool for 10 minutes. 8 Lift sides of parchment paper to release from pan and place on a cooling rack for an additional 10 minutes. 9 On a cutting board cut into granola bars. 10 Can be stored in the freezer or fridge.