Vanilla and Fruit Seeded Granola Bars

Ingredients

• 1 orange
• ½ cup dried fruit of choice, chopped if large
• 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
• ⅓ cup plus 1 tablespoon tahini, divided
• ⅓ cup plus 1 teaspoon honey, divided
• 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon kosher or sea salt
• 1 cup gluten-free quick or old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup mixed seeds of choice (see headnote)

Instructions

1. 1Heat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a 9-inch square baking dish with cooking spray.
2. 2Line the dish with a rectangular piece of parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides, and spray the parchment.
3. 3Grate the zest from the orange into a mixing bowl using a fine grater.
4. 4Halve the orange, squeeze 1 tablespoon of juice into a small bowl, and reserve it for later.
5. 5Combine the dried fruit, ground flaxseed, and a half cup of hot water in the mixing bowl, allowing the mixture to rest for 5 minutes.
6. 6Stir a third of a cup of tahini, a third of a cup of honey, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, the cinnamon, and the salt into the bowl until smooth.
7. 7Fold the oats into the wet ingredients, followed by the mixed seeds, mixing just until incorporated.
8. 8Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and press it into an even layer using a greased spatula.
9. 9Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the top turns golden brown and the center feels slightly firm to the touch.
10. 10Whisk the remaining 1 tablespoon of tahini, 1 teaspoon of honey, and a half teaspoon of vanilla extract into the reserved orange juice.
11. 11Pour this glaze over the warm baked mixture immediately after removing it from the oven, spreading it evenly.
12. 12Leave the pan on a wire rack until the contents cool completely.
13. 13Lift the baked block out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang and slice it into 10 rectangular bars.
14. 14Swap the tahini for peanut butter if desired, keeping in mind this changes the allergy profile.
15. 15Utilize a flax egg mixture as a binder if you want to experiment with egg-free baking in other recipes.
16. 16Add this flax mixture to your routine to increase fiber and healthy fats in your diet.
17. 17Mix 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of warm water and let it rest for 5 minutes to create one flax egg.
18. 18Use this flax egg technique for quick breads and cookies rather than delicate egg-focused dishes.

Nutrition

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