Granola Bars

Do you know that “Granola” was actually a trademark that registered in the US in the late 19th century? Now it is still a trademark but only in Australia.
Granola and muesli are basically the same, they are breakfast food that contain rolled oats, nuts, fresh or dried fruits, sweeteners, seeds, but granola is usually baked until it is crisp, and muesli use uncooked oats and combine with liquids like milk, water, juice, or yogurt and left it for a night in the fridge.
But guess what? I’d say they are exactly the same! I’ve bought a package of muesli and it was baked! lol
And there is granola bar, it’s granola that pressed and cut into a bar shape, and of course it’s baked :), and here is the recipe :

Making about : 30 bars
Time needed : 30 minutes, and 2 hours resting

Ingredients :

• 500gr organic rolled oats
• 150gr mixed dried fruits (I use : cranberry, goji berry, raisin, blueberry)
• 100gr cashew nut
• 100gr sun flower seeds
• 50gr almond slices
• 50gr pumpkin seeds
• 25gr chia seeds
• 80gr honey
• 50gr blueberry jam (or you can use brown sugar)
• 150gr dates

How to make :

1. Prepare a square baking pan/tray (size 24x24cm) and cover it with plastic wrap or parchment paper.
2. Toast all ingredients except dried fruits, chia seeds, honey, sugar and dates. Toasting time depends on each ingredient.
3. Puree the dates (without pits) using a blender or food processor.
4. Boil honey and jam (or sugar) in a saucepan about 5 minutes or until it’s thick but not too caramelized.
5. Mix well the dates puree into sugar and honey mixture.
6. Place all toasted ingredients, mixed fruits and chia seeds in a large bowl.
7. Pour the sugar, honey and dates puree mixture into the bowl, and mix them well.
8. Pour all the mixture into baking tray, spread it evenly, and press it hard enough evenly until they stick together and you think they can hold the shape.
9. Place the baking tray in refrigerator for minimum 2 hours.
10. After 2 hours or so, it’s ready to be cut. One tray can make 30 bars, or 20 bars if you cut it bigger.
11. You can wrap them in plastic wrap individually and make them ready-to-go with you in your bag wherever and whenever you’ll go or you can store them in refrigerator for longer life time.