Description
Crunchy Granola Heart Bars are a delicious and wholesome snack made with rolled oats, almonds, honey, and coconut oil. Baked to a perfect golden brown, these bars are enhanced with a drizzle of dark chocolate and a sprinkle of dried cranberries for a delightful combination of sweet and tart flavors. Perfect for breakfast on-the-go or a healthy anytime treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup almonds, chopped
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate, melted
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to ensure easy removal and even baking of the granola bars.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats and chopped almonds, ensuring they are well mixed to distribute the nuts evenly throughout the bars.
- Heat Wet Ingredients: In a small saucepan, gently heat the honey and melted coconut oil together until fully combined. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and salt to add flavor.
- Combine Mixture: Pour the warm honey and coconut oil mixture over the oat and almond mixture. Stir thoroughly until all dry ingredients are evenly coated with the sticky mixture.
- Press Mixture on Baking Sheet: Transfer the coated oat mixture to the lined baking sheet and press down firmly to compact the mixture and form an even layer for uniform baking.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the edges turn golden brown, indicating that the bars are crispy and set.
- Cool and Cut Shapes: Allow the granola slab to cool completely on the baking sheet. Once cooled, use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut the bars into festive heart shapes.
- Decorate: Drizzle the melted dark chocolate over the cut bars and sprinkle the chopped dried cranberries on top for added flavor and a beautiful presentation.
Notes
- Use parchment paper for easy removal and cleanup.
- Make sure the granola is fully cooled before cutting to prevent crumbling.
- You can substitute almonds with other nuts like walnuts or pecans for variety.
- Dark chocolate drizzle can be replaced with white chocolate or omitted for a simpler version.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
