Summer's fast approaching - time to hit the beach, trail, boat and campground! These sweet, slightly-salty granola bars are the perfect fix while you're reading that mystery in a hammock, hiking to the summit or fueling up for some extreme body surfing.
Ingredients
1/4 C + 2 T flaxseeds
1/2 C nut butter of your choice (almond butter is always good, but so is macadamia-cashew butter)
1/2 C agave nectar
2 T goji berries, finely chopped
1 tsp vanilla extract (or 1/4 tsp vanilla bean powder)
1/4 tsp Himalayan pink salt
1/4 C water
1 1/2 C rolled oats
1 C chopped, unsalted raw nuts (such as almonds, pistachios, cashews, or brazil nuts)
Directions
Preheat over to 325 degrees F. Mist 8" square baking dish with cooking spray; line with parchment. Pulse 2 T flaxseeds in a spice grinder until finely ground (substitute 1/4 cup ground flaxseeds).
In a food processor, combine nut butter, agave, 1/2 cup raisins, vanilla, ground flaxseeds, 1/4 cup water and salt. process until quite smooth.
Place oats, nuts, remaining 1/2 cup raisins, goji berries and unground flaxseeds in a bowl; stir in nut butter mixture.
Spread in baking dish, tuck in in exposed raisins. Sprinkle with a touch of flaky salt, if desired. Press mixture down firmly.
Bake until dark golden and dry to the touch (mixure will not rise), 30-35 minutes. Press down again. Let cool completely in baking dish on wire rack. Remove when cool and cut into 12 bars.
Per serving (1 bar): 256 calories 13g fat, 0mg cholesterol, 4g fiber, 7g protein, 32g carbohydrates, 66mg sodium, 2mg iron, 70mg calcium.
Basic recipe courtesy of Health.com, December 2014.
