So-Cal University Girl's Granola Bars

I adapted a few granola bars to fit my needs as a short-on-cash college kid. They’re easy to adapt to what you have in your pantry and perfect to store individually for a healthy grab-and-go snack! Using dried cherries gives the bars a tarty edge! I recommend cutting bars and storing in refrigerator wrapped individually for grab-and-go snacking.

Original recipe makes 20 granola bars

Ingredients

cooking spray
1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup almond flour
3/4 cup chopped dried mixed fruit
1/2 cup crispy rice cereal
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup flax seeds
1 tablespoon instant coffee granules, or more to taste
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup applesauce
1/2 cup honey
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

PREP

15 mins
COOK

25 mins
READY IN

40 mins

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
Mix oats, almond flour, dried fruit, rice cereal, brown sugar, pecans, chocolate chips, flax seeds, instant coffee granules, and cinnamon in a large bowl.
Whisk applesauce, honey, egg, and vanilla extract in a small bowl; pour into oat mixture. Stir until evenly incorporated. Press batter into prepared baking dish.
Bake in the preheated oven until edges are golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely before cutting into granola bars.