These roasted nut granola bars are completely delicious AND nutritious. Perfect as on the go breakfast or a quick snack. Vegan, gluten free, no refined sugar and healthy!
Preheat the oven to 180°c fan/200°c/400°f.
Place the oats, nuts and seeds onto a baking tray and bake for 10-15 minutes until they begin to turn slightly golden. Remove from the oven and transfer the toasted oats, nuts and seeds into a large bowl.
Meanwhile, place the dates into a food processor and blend until they create a sticky dough-like ball.
Add the blended dates, honey/maple syrup, nut butter and coconut oil into a pan over a low heat and mix well with a wooden spoon until all the ingredients are combined.
Pour the date mixture into the bowl with the toasted oats and use your hands (recommended) or a wooden spoon to thoroughly combine everything together.
Transfer the mixture into a lined 9 x 9 dish before using the bottom of a glass to push down and compact the mixture into one even layer. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Once the granola bars are set, remove them from the fridge and cut into 8-10 bars before serving.
These granola bars can be stored in the fridge or in an airtight container for up to a week.
You can make these bars without the first step and just use raw nuts and oats, but I think that the roasted flavour really adds something special.
Personally, I like to use almonds, pistachios, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds in these roasted nut granola bars, but feel free to use your own favourites!
Optional add-ins: just omit some of the nuts/seeds and add in 1 or more of these instead (eg. instead of 1 cup nuts/seeds make it 3/4 cup nuts + 1/4 cup raisins etc.)
Recipe courtesy of georgieeats.co.uk