Cocoa Heaven Granola Bars Recipes

COCOA GRANOLA BARS

Steps:

• Combine cereal, oats,raisins and white chocolate chips in a big bowl.
• Warm honey, brown sugar, and light corn syrup in a saucepan on the stove top, stirring to combine.
• Add peanut butter and vanilla and stir to combine then take off heat.
• Pour mixture over cereal mixture and mix well.
• Press into a 9 x 13 ungreased pan.
• Be sure to press hard into pan all over so they don't fall apart.
• Put in refrigerator for an hour to cool which makes them easier to cut.
• Cut into 15 bars and enjoy.
• You may also wrap in wax paper and freeze.

HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE GRANOLA BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper so that it hangs over the edges.
• *Optional - spread oats on a baking sheet in a single layer and toast in the oven for 7-10 minutes shaking the pan occasionally until just starting to turn golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool a few minutes.
• Transfer the cooled oats to a large bowl and add the dried fruit, nuts, cacao powder and salt, stir to mix.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the applesauce, maple syrup and vanilla until smooth.
• Fold in the chia seeds and cacao nibs if using until combined.
• Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish, pressing into the corners and flattening the top.
• Bake for 30 minutes, remove from oven and place on a rack to cool for 10-15 minutes.
• Remove the bars from the dish by lifting the edges of the parchment paper up and place directly on the rack until cooled completely.
• Cut into 8 pieces and store wrapped tightly or in an air tight container. Bars will keep at room temperature for about 5 days or up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

COCOA-COCONUT GRANOLA BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch square baking dish.
• Spread rolled oats, flax seed meal, sliced almonds, shredded coconut, and chia seeds onto a baking sheet.
• Toast oats mixture in preheated oven, stirring every 5 minutes, until lightly toasted, about 15 minutes.
• Reduce oven heat to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• Combine honey, brown sugar, coconut oil, vanilla extract, coconut extract, ground cinnamon, and salt together in a saucepan over medium-low heat; cook and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved, about 3 minutes. Stir cocoa powder into the honey mixture until dissolved.
• Mix toasted oat mixture and the honey mixture in a large bowl and stir until the dry ingredients are coated; spread into the prepared baking dish and press into an even layer.
• Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes.
• Cool bars in pan for 10 minutes, immediately cut into squares, and remove from pan.