These chewy, crunchy and delicious nut-free snack bars boast good-for-you dried fruit, oats and little explosions of chocolate. We like the flavor of dried cherries or cranberries, but any coarsely chopped dried fruit will work.
Nutrition per serving may change if servings are adjusted.
2½ cups unsweetened puffed wheat cereal
¾ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
½ cup dried cherries or dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
½ cup honey
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
⅛ teaspoon salt
½ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips or finely chopped bittersweet chocolate
Preparation
Active
Ready In
Position a rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 300°F. Line an 8-inch-square pan with parchment paper, letting it overhang on two opposite sides.
Toss cereal, oats and dried cherries (or cranberries) in a large bowl.
Combine honey, vanilla and salt in a small saucepan. Warm over medium heat, stirring, until the honey is more fluid and the salt is dissolved. Pour the honey mixture over the dry ingredients and fold until everything is moistened and sticky. Let cool for 5 minutes. Fold in chips (or chopped chocolate) until evenly distributed. Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan and spread evenly with a fork. Using the back of the fork, press the mixture very firmly all over. (Alternatively, cover with parchment paper and press firmly all over.)
Bake until the top is golden brown, about 35 minutes. (If in doubt, take it out so the honey does not burn.) Run a knife along the unlined sides of the pan to detach the bars. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack to room temperature, about 1 hour. Use the ends of the parchment to lift the bars from the pan. Gently peel off the parchment. Use a heavy sharp knife to cut into 16 bars or squares.
Per serving:
93 calories;2 g fat(1 g sat); 1 g fiber; 19 g carbohydrates; 1 g protein; 3 mcg folate; 0 mg cholesterol; 14 g sugars; 12 g added sugars; 142 IU vitamin A; 0 mg vitamin C; 3 mg calcium; 1 mg iron; 20 mg sodium; 45 mg potassium
Dry, too sweet and a very small portion to count as a snack
June 12, 2012
By: EatingWell User
Too much!!
This recipe was attached to an article that said remove all snacks that have more than 4 grams of sugar. You speak with forked tongue.
Pros: None
Cons: 12 grams of added sugar....