Vegan Granola Bars

 Equipment: 

Oven preheated to 325° F

Rimmed cookie sheet lined with parchment paper

Spoon or rubber spatula

Medium sauce pan

Knife or pizza cutter ( Tip: make sure the knife is sharp.)

 

Ingredients:

3 cups old fashioned oats

1 cup pumpkin seeds

1 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup flax seed may use wheat germ 

1/4 cup oil canola (Tip: any light oil will do; non vegans can 2 T butter + 2 T canola)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)

1/2 cup agave (Tip: honey works well too)

1/2 cup maple syrup (Tip: molasses is a good substitute) 

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (Tip: use any spice you like cinnamon, cayenne)

 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla (optional)

 

Place oats and seeds in oven for 10 to 15 minutes to get them all toasty.

 

While the oat mixture is roasting, turn stove on medium to medium low heat, in medium sauce pan, add the other ingredients. Stir together until brown sugar is melted. 

Remove the oats from the oven and pour the syrup mixture over the oats. Stir covering all ingredients. Bake in oven for 10 minutes. Remove. Stir. Place back in oven for 5 minutes. Remove. Cut the bars immediately. If you wait too long, just break into pieces and add to salad, yogurt, or even trail mix. Enjoy!