Caffe Tazza's Healthy Handmade Granola Bars - KLTV.com-Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville, Texas | ETX News

Caffe Tazza's Healthy HandMade Granola Bars

Ingredients:

• 3 cups whole oats
• 1 cup salted mixed nuts, crushed into approx ¼ inch pieces
• 1 cup crushed pecans
• ½ cup local honey
• 1 Tablespoon vanilla
• 1 cup coconut flakes
• 2 cups blended oats (oats that have been ground into a "flour-type" consistency in the blender)
• 2 cups dried cranberries

Directions:  Set oven to 350 degrees

1. Combine the honey and vanilla in a saucepan and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly.
2. Mix everything together in a large bowl. The oats & nuts, coconut, blended oats, the heated honey mixture, and the dried fruit.  Mix everything REALLY WELL because you want to make sure the "honey" coats everything to hold it together.
3. Using the back of a large spoon, spread the mixture onto a cookie sheet that is lightly sprayed with nonstick spray.  PRESS HARD all over the granola to form a ½" thick layer of granola. Pressing firmly ensures that your bars won't fall apart when you cut them.
4. Bake in 350 degree oven for 5 minutes to obtain a crisp texture and to toast the nuts and oats
5. Let the granola completely cool.
6. Carefully turn the granola onto a large cutting board
7. Firmly press down with a large knife (not sawing) to cut the granola into 2"x4" bars.
8. Store in an airtight container, between sheets of waxed paper (so they don't stick together).