Date-Pistachio Granola Bars

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The mix-ins in these homemade granola bars are inspired by ingredients commonly used in Middle Eastern cooking--dates, hazelnuts, pistachios, tahini and cardamom. But feel free to vary the dried fruit, nuts, seeds and/or spices to your preference. We tested several sticky sweeteners, including maple syrup and honey, but found brown rice syrup held the bars together the best.

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Prep Time:
20 mins
Additional Time:
1 hr 10 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 30 mins
Servings:
1
Yield:
24 bars

Ingredients

  • 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

  • 1 cup crispy brown rice cereal

  • 1 cup finely chopped pitted dates, preferably Medjool (1/4 inch)

  • ½ cup hazelnuts, toasted and chopped

  • ½ cup unsalted pistachios, toasted and chopped

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • cup brown rice syrup or light corn syrup

  • ½ cup tahini

  • 1 teaspoon ground cardamom

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving extra parchment hanging over two sides. Lightly coat the parchment with cooking spray.

  2. Combine oats, rice cereal, dates, hazelnuts, pistachios and salt in a large bowl.

  3. Combine rice syrup (or corn syrup), tahini and cardamom in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds (or heat in a saucepan over medium heat for 1 minute). Add to the dry ingredients and stir until evenly combined. Transfer to the prepared pan and firmly press into the pan with the back of a spatula. Transfer to the prepared pan and firmly press into the pan with the back of a spatula.

  4. For chewier bars, bake until barely starting to color around the edge and still soft in the middle, 20 to 25 minutes. For crunchier bars, bake until golden brown around the edge and somewhat firm in the middle, 30 to 35 minutes. (Both will still be soft when warm and firm up as they cool.)

  5. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then using the parchment to help you, lift out of the pan onto a cutting board (it will still be soft). Cut into 24 bars, then let cool completely without separating the bars, about 30 minutes more. Once cool, separate into bars.

Tips

To make ahead: Individually wrap airtight and store at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Equipment: Parchment paper

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

155 Calories
6g Fat
23g Carbs
3g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 1
Serving Size 1 granola bar
Calories 155
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 23g 8%
Dietary Fiber 2g 9%
Total Sugars 9g
Added Sugars 5g 10%
Protein 3g 7%
Total Fat 6g 8%
Saturated Fat 1g 4%
Vitamin A 11IU 0%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Folate 16mcg 4%
Sodium 42mg 2%
Calcium 26mg 2%
Iron 1mg 5%
Magnesium 26mg 6%
Potassium 201mg 4%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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