By beckysue from Baking the Goods.
Vegan Gluten Free Almond Cherry Cacao Granola Bars.
We are a week into 2014 and the health regimens are still in full force for many of us. While I do admire the folks who are sticking to their resolutions, there are pros and cons that go along with that. Con, my yoga classes are as overstuffed as my yoga pants. Pro, the wait at my new favorite deep dish Chicago-style pizza joint is basically nonexistent. Pro, I’ve pinned a number of veggie recipes that look tasty and satisfying. Con, the produce aisles of Berkeley Bowl are almost un-navigable.
In keeping with a healthier-ish eating goal of 2014, I decided to bake up something with more health benefits and a little less fat. I enjoy granola bars because they can fool you into thinking you are eating a candy bar or cookie. It kinda feels like you are getting away with something and you are cheating the system. Many prepackaged granola bars are basically candy bars, so I decided to make my own vegan and gluten free version, packed with healthy energy boosting benefits. I don’t usually do vegan or gluten free, but I’ve got to admit I love these granola bars! They are super crave-able. I don’t miss the butter or gluten and I don’t feel guilty eating one after sweating my buns off at hot yoga. If you really don’t trust that something vegan and gluten free can actually taste amazing, you can always sub in butter for the coconut oil and use regular ol’ rolled oats. But, it is a new year so maybe you should try something new (it just might surprise the cacao nibs out of you).
Here are a few of the benefits of these tasty and satisfying vegan gluten free granola bars.
Almonds full of vitamin E, an antioxidant that bolsters the immune system.
Cacao Nibs are full of magnesium, fiber and iron. All good things.
Cherries contain Vitamins A and C, nice. And, copper, which apparently helps keep our tissues strong. Hmm.
Gluten Free Rolled Oats from Bob’s Red Mill help lower blood pressure, help with weight control, are healthy for our tickers and are they are full of fiber. Bob’s is unbeatable!
Flax Seeds from Bob’s Red Mill, an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids and rich in dietary fiber. Also heart healthy. Yes, please!
Honey is a natural energy and immunity booster. Technically, honey is not considered vegan because it exploits bees. The honey can easily be substituted with agave nectar, molasses or Lyle’s Golden Syrup.
I am not saying these granola bars are the healthiest things on earth but, they sure are easier on the waistline than a handful of cookies.
Once I started pulling the ingredients for these granola bars I realized I was out of brown sugar! Eeek. Instead of dropping everything and running to the store for a bag of sugar, I made it myself. Here is a quick recipe for making brown sugar, it honestly couldn’t be easier. I might just start making my own brown sugar all of the time!
The dream team, Lyle’s Golden Syrup, BRM Flaxseeds, TJ’s Coconut Oil, BRM Gluten Free Rolled Oats, Tcho Cacoa Nibs.
Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Old Fashioned Rolled Oats, taste just as good as their gluten packed counterpart. For realsies.
I found it easiest to measure the coconut oil with my scale.
Pour the melted coconut oil over the toasted gluten free oats.
Once the gluten free oats have been coated with the coconut oil, cinnamon and salt you will spread them evenly over 2 baking sheets.
Flaxseeds, almonds, cherries, cacao nibs, and gluten free oats give the granola bars flavor and texture.
Mix together the flaxseeds, almonds, cherries, cacao nibs, and gluten free oats.
Flaxseeds, almonds, cherries, cacao nibs, and gluten free oats mixed together.
Lyle’s Golden Syrup, brown sugar and honey make the syrup that binds the granola bars together. If you are 100% vegan, replace the honey with more Lyle’s Syrup.
Once the syrup melts, pour it over the oat mixture.
Pour the granola onto a single baking sheet.
Spread the granola evenly in baking sheet.
Once I filled the lower baking sheet evenly with the granola mixture, I placed a sheet of parchment paper on top and used another baking sheet to press the granola evenly into the lower baking sheet.
Perfectly even pressing.
I used a sharp knife and a metal ruler to evenly cut the granola bars.
The granola bars are a little sticky so I individually wrapped them with parchment paper and bakers twine.
Individually wrapped Vegan Gluten Free Almond Cherry Cacao Nib Granola Bars. They taste so good you’d never guess they were vegan and gluten free!
Brown paper packages tied up with string, these Vegan Gluten Free Almond Cherry Cacao Nib Granola bars are a few of my favorite things.
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