Crunchy Decadent Granola Bars

As one of America's favorite snack categories, granola bars are widely available in many varieties from different brands. They are also some of the easiest to make at home and keep well for future snacking. I especially love that I can customize the ingredient list to my personal taste. So of course, this recipe only serves as a template for your own creative concoctions. 

For these decadent dessert-looking granola bars, you'll need:

1/2 cup of almonds* 

1 cup of rolled oats 

2 tablespoons of sunflower seeds

1/2 cup of dried fruits - cranberries, raisins, blueberries*

3 tablespoons of creamy peanut butter 

3 tablespoons of honey 

a dash of salt 

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract 

1/2 bar of dark chocolate, chopped into pieces 

*I used a bag of Trader Joe's ABC Trek Mix which includes almonds and dried fruits. 

1. Chop up the almonds if they're not pre-sliced 

2. Add chopped almonds, rolled oats and sunflower seeds into a glass pan and bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 

3. In a bowl, combine dried fruits, peanut butter, honey, vanilla extract and salt. 

4. Add the dry ingredients from the oven into the bowl. Mix together.

5. Transfer the granola mixture into a greased pan. Pack tightly by using a rubber spatula to press the mixture. 

6. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. 

7. During the last 1-2 minutes, sprinkle the chopped pieces of dark chocolate on top. 

8. Cool for at least an hour. 

Happy snacking!