Dark Chocolate Chunk Quinoa Granola Bars

Ingredients

• •1 cups old-fashioned oats
• •1 cup quinoa
• •1 cup almonds
• •1 cup coconut
• •½ cup wheat germ
• •3 tablespoons coconut oil
• •⅔ cup honey
• •¼ cup brown sugar
• •1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• •¼ teaspoon salt
• •½ cup dates
• •¼ cup cherry craisins
• •½ cup chocolate chips

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Method

From foodista.com — read the original

1. 1Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 8 x 12 in glassbaking dish (or a similar size) and line it with parchment paper.
2. 2Combine the oats, quinoa, almonds, and coconut together on an unlined baking pan and bake for 12 minutes, or until lightly browned, stirring every 4 minutes.
3. 3Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl and stir in the wheat germ.
4. 4Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F.
5. 5Place the oil, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat. Bring to a boil (the mixture will start foaming) Once boiling, cook for 60 seconds, stirring constantly.
6. 6Pour the syrup over the toasted oatmeal mixture.
7. 7Add the dates and craisins and stir well.
8. 8Stir in the dark chocolate chunks, because the mixture is so warm, you will find some of the chocolate melting.
9. 9Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and gently, but firmly press the mixture evenly into the pan using your fingers.
10. 10Bake for 20 minutes, or until the granola is a light golden brown color.
11. 11Cool for at least 2 to 3 hours before removing from the pan and cutting into squares. Store in an airtight container at room temperature!
12. 12Make sure that your oats are certified gluten free.
13. 13These do contain honey, I've seen some vegans eat honey, others don't, so keep that in mind! :) I haven't tried to sub the honey with agave, but if you do, please let me know the results!