Back to School Snacks: Sunflower Seed Granola Bars

August 22, 2012

Sunflower seed and honey granola bars are a tasty snack to make for the kids (and yourself). In a recent LA Weekly article, sunflower seeds are identified as a trendy back to school snack and this recipe is a great way to incorporate them into your child's diet. Rolled oats, sunflower seeds and flax seeds are combined with honey and cinnamon for a simple yet delicious treat. Sunflower seed and honey granola bars are a healthy snack everyone will love.

Sunflower Seed Granola Bars

Ingredients:

3 cups Organic Rolled Oats (not quick cook oats)

1 cup Raw Sunflower Seeds (If you don't feel like toasting your own you can use roasted/salted sunflower seeds.)

3/4 cup Honey (you could use 1 Cup Honey instead of Maple below)

1/4 cup Organic Maple Syrup (I prefer Grade B, it has a richer, more intense Maple flavor than grade A)

2/3 cup Ground Flax Seed

1/2 teaspoon Salt

1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

Butter or Canola Cooking Spray to grease pan

Directions:

Pre Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly spray sunflower seeds with cooking spray.

Put Sunflower seeds on a single layer in pan and sprinkle some salt on top.

Bake seeds in 350 degree oven for about 8 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant. Do watch carefully as they can burn easily!

Lightly grease 9x13 baking pan.

In a sauce pan combine Honey, Maple Syrup and Cinnamon. Heat on medium until mixture combines, thickens and boils (about 4 minutes or so) Stir mixture constantly so it does not scorch!

Take off heat and let mixture cool.

In a bowl combine Oats, Ground Flax and Toasted Sunflower Seeds

Pour Honey mixture over Oat mixture, combine until Oats are well coated

Spread in pan, press down and flatten mixture. Cool to room temperature.

Cut into whatever size you prefer.

Wrap individually in waxed paper and store in the fridge. They will stay firm if kept cold. They last for quite a while!