Chewy Cinnamon Apple Granola Bars ~ Soft, Chewy, Delicious Homemade Granola Bar Recipe Stuffed with Apples, Cinnamon, Oats, Pecans and Sunflower Seeds!
You guys. My life is about to change. Drastically. My baby is beginning to not really be a baby anymore. We are talking about climbing, crawling and pulling herself up to a standing position. Then she turns around and has this huge grin. I can just hear her thinking, “MAMA LOOK AT ME I’M A BIG GIRL!” And then this Momma wants to hide, crawl in a corner and cry for two reasons. The first is because my baby isn’t a baby anymore. The second one is because I’m about to have a rude awakening and my life is about to get even crazier as I chase after two kids. I’m not going to lie. I enjoyed it when I could plop her down in a swing and she’d sit there and babble and coo and look around for a hour. Now I’m telling her not to chew on shoes, not to pick up the crumbs from the floor (yes I have crumbs, don’t judge) and to quit chewing on the cardboard box sitting in the entry. I just made my house sound like an epic disaster didn’t I?
Speaking of growing up today I was watching SnapChat (Follow me @JulieEatsandTreats!) and Dine and Dish posted about her baby going off to kindergarten and how she was crying. You know what happened? All the tears happened to this lady right here. I cried just thinking about Miss K going off to kindergarten in two years. This was the second time I cried today. Apparently I’m a bit hormonal or emotional or something! Completely ridiculous but I know it will be here before I know it because life is flying by.
Even though I don’t have a child to send off to school and welcome home with treats after their first day I’m still making you a special treat so you can do that with your kids! If you don’t have a child either to welcome home then you just need to make these and enjoy them because they are awesome. I kept going back and snitching more. They were chewy, crunchy and full of apples and cinnamon. My favorite two flavors for fall!
I lightened these granola bars up using Truvia® Brown Sugar Blend. My favorite secret ingredient because it helps me reduce the calories and sugar in these delicious treats while not sacrificing the flavor. Truvia® sweetener is natural, great-tasting sweetness that was born from the leaves of the stevia plant. These granola bars are bursting with apples, cinnamon and nuts. A perfect snack for a crisp fall day!
More Apple Bar Goodness? YES!! Check this out!
*This post was compensated by Truvia. All opinions are my own as always.
Chewy Cinnamon Apple Granola Bars Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 c. old fashioned oats
- 1/4 c. sunflower seeds
- 1/4 c. flax seeds
- 3/4 c. chopped pecans
- 4 Tbsp coconut oil
- 1/2 c. honey
- 1/8 cup c. Truvia Brown Sugar Blend
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 c. puffed rice cereal
- 1/2 c. chopped dried apples
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare 9x9 inch baking dish by lining it with parchment paper, leaving excess hanging over sides for easy removal.
- Spread oats, sunflower seeds, nuts and flax seeds out in an even layer on parchment paper lined baking sheet. Baked for 5-10 minutes until the oats just start to brown and become fragrant. Watch closely.
- In a small saucepan bring honey, coconut oil and brown sugar blend to a simmer over medium heat. Stir to dissolve sugar for 2-4 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- In a large bowl combine cereal, dried apples, cinnamon and salt. Stir in oats and honey mixture in and stir until mixture is well coated.
- Press mixture down in prepared 9x9 pan. Refrigerate for at least a hour before serving. Cut into bars.
Nutrition
Things You Might Need for this Recipe!
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Jen | Baked by an Introvert says
August 24, 2015 at 10:10 amChewy granola bars are the best! Although I’m sad to see summer go, I am excited for fall flavors. Cinnamon apple is one of my favorites.
Katalina @ Peas & Peonies says
August 24, 2015 at 6:39 pmso making these, my son starts pre school soon and he will love to snack on these!
Laura O @ Petite Allergy Treats says
August 24, 2015 at 8:40 pmOooh, Julie… I hear you on the baby not being a baby anymore. My 3 year old ‘baby’ still makes me sad since he’s probably our last child and could start school this year (I’m keeping him home). But at least I can send these delicious granola bars with my older son! Love the less sugar option.
Thao @ In Good Flavor says
August 24, 2015 at 10:33 pmEnjoy these years with your babies, Julie. My youngest baby is starting college this year. Its’s very exciting, but at the same time, I miss my sweet little boy. These granola bars are wonderful little snacks. They are delicious and healthy, and the apple and cinnamon flavor is a great intro to fall.
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says
August 25, 2015 at 7:10 amI’m not quite ready for fall but I am ready for these granola bars. Yum!
Julie | Small Green Kitchen says
August 25, 2015 at 9:46 pmThese bars are the perfect little bars to take to work for snacking or for breakfast. I’m ready for fall and the flavors in these will take me there despite it being in the 90s every day!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
August 26, 2015 at 1:55 pmIt’s insane how quickly they grow. My youngest gets into everything and hasn’t stopped moving since she learned to crawl either 🙁 These granola bars are perfect to keep my energy up and for packing along in my oldest’s lunchbox. They look fantastic!
Aly says
March 1, 2016 at 9:56 pmI’m not sure where the oats-nuts mixture get incorporated. After roasting them and proceeding with the steps, do you just leave them in the pan and top it off with the rice cereal-honey mix? Or can you mix them along with the rice cereal then combining it with the honey?
Thank you. It sounds like a great recipe.
Julie Evink says
March 4, 2016 at 9:00 pmI’ve updated it! Hopefully it’s more clear!
Aly says
March 4, 2016 at 9:17 pmThank you!!! I’m making this in a few days as part of my meal prepping 🙂 I do have just one other teeny tiny question… Do you think it’d be ok to bake this? I’ve always just baked my granola bars as I thought they hold better that way. I’m thinking 325-350F for about 10min… or would that affect the puffed rice cereals?
Thank you again. I promise I won’t have anymore questions after this!!! …i think. Lol
Julie Evink says
March 4, 2016 at 9:23 pmI think that would be fine! Will you let me know how they turn out? Thanks!
Jasmine says
May 26, 2016 at 7:36 pmWhat is the best way to store these? And how long can they keep for?
Julie Evink says
May 27, 2016 at 8:34 amI stored mine in an airtight container for 3-5 days. You could also freeze them.
Jasmine says
May 27, 2016 at 10:21 amAwesome thankyou. They are delicious by the way!