I’ve always considered those store bought granola bars to be the healthy alternative snack to a chocolate biscuit, but after reading what was actually in them I realised they weren’t so healthy at all! So, I’ve come up with my own recipe for a tasty AND healthy granola bar.
These are packed with flavour, and are made from dried ingredients, so they keep really well for a few weeks and can be made in big batches. They’re perfect for taking to work as a snack or for an on-the-go breakfast!

Prep time: 30 minutes 

Makes 12 granola bars 

Ingredients:

• 175g Rolled oats
• 50g dark chocolate – cut into small chunks 
• 10g Fresh ginger, finely chopped 
• Zest of one lemon 
• Zest of one orange 
• 30g Dried blueberries 
• 30g Raisins
• 30g Dried apricots – cut into small chunks 
• 125ml runny honey 
• 8 medjool dates (pitted)
• 100g mixed nuts – I use cashews, pecans, almonds, walnuts, Brazil nuts 
• 2 tablespoons Sunflower seeds
• 2 tablespoons Chia seeds 
• 1 tablespoon water

Method:

1. Blitz the medjool dates in a food processor until they bind into a sticky dough forms. Then place in a mixing bowl. These are what will bind your granola bars together.

2. Put the nuts in the food processor and blitz for a few seconds. You don’t want them to be very finely chopped, but rather still a bit chunky. Once done, place in the mixing bowl with the dates.

3. Add the oats, chocolate, dried blueberries and apricots, the raisins, ginger, and the orange and lemon zests to the mixing bowl. Stir all the ingredients using a wooden spoon so they are mixed well

4. Add the runny honey and water and stir again. Try to make sure the honey and date mixture are evenly incorporated throughout to ensure the mixture sticks well together.

5. Line a square or rectangular baking tray with baking parchment. 

6. Spoon the mixture into the baking tray. This is where a bit of elbow grease is required! Pat down with the back of a spoon until it is tightly compact. This part is very important in making sure the bars glue well together. 

7. Throw in the oven at gas mark 3 for 30 minutes. The top layer should be golden brown once removed from the oven. 

8. Remove after 30 minutes and leave to cool. Then, cut the mix into bars. 

9. Store in an airtight container for 2 – 3 weeks (Though they’re so tasty they probably won’t last that long!)