Granola Bars + Geocaching

One of the *many* activities on my littles’ summer bucket list was to head out on a geocaching adventure.  So, we are headed down to a trail by the river tomorrow – in spite of the heat!  Since General Mills sent us a backpack chocked full of protein-packed ingredients and the new Cheerios Protein Cinnamon Almond (yum!), I thought it was the perfect time to put the stuff to use in some homemade granola bars!

Using almost everything in the bag, I made the yummiest, and healthiest granola bars ever!!  It takes a little time, but is so worth the end result…

Granola Bars with Cheerios Protein
2 cups rolled oats
2 cups Cheerios Protein Cinnamon Almond
2/3 cup slivered almonds
2 tbls whole flaxseed
1 cup goji berries
1/2 cup chocolate almond butter
1/2 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla or orange extract
 
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Combine the oats, flaxseed and nuts on a baking pan and toast for about 10 minutes, stirring every few minutes.  Watch it carefully because it will burn in no time flat. 
2. Toss the oats mixture with the cereal and fruit in a large bowl.
3. In a small saucepan, combine the almond butter, vanilla and honey and cook over low heat until well mixed.  Pour over the dry ingredients.  Mix everything until fully combined and coated. 
4.  Line a 9×9” pan with parchment paper and lightly spray with cooking oil.  Pour the mixture evenly into the pan.  With another sheet of parchment, press down hard to compact the mixture, pushing it down into the corners of the pan and evening out the edges.
5.  Wait at least 3 hours for everything to cool at room temperature.  Turn the granola out onto a cutting board and cut (by pressing straight down) into bars or squares with a sharp knife.  Wrap individually in parchment if desired. 
 
Happy trails, y’all!  More to come from our adventure…
xoxo