Cranberry-Pumpkin Seed Energy Bars

ACTIVE: 20 MIN
TOTAL TIME: 2 HRS 40 MIN
SERVINGS: 12 bars

•FAST
•HEALTHY
•MAKE-AHEAD
•STAFF-FAVORITE
•VEGETARIAN

These honey-flavored cereal bars with puffed rice and toasted oats, from Real Snacks by Lara Ferroni, make a great substitute for store-bought energy bars. They can be made with almost any mix of nuts and dried fruit.

Slideshow: Tasty Snack Bar Recipes

1 cup pecans, crushed
1 cup rolled oats
1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup flaxseeds
2/3 cup muscovado or dark brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 cups puffed rice cereal
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Preheat the oven to 350° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the pecans, oats, pumpkin seeds and flaxseeds on the sheet and bake until fragrant, 8 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl.
In a saucepan, bring the sugar, honey, butter and salt to a boil over moderate heat. Simmer until the sugar is dissolved and a light brown caramel forms, 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
Drizzle the caramel all over the nut-and-oat mixture. Stir in the puffed rice and cranberries until evenly coated.
Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper, extending the paper over the side. Scrape the cereal mixture into the dish in an even layer. Cover the mixture with a second sheet of parchment and press down to compress it. Let stand until firm, about 2 hours.
Discard the top piece of parchment. Using the overhanging paper, lift out the cereal square and transfer it to a work surface. Cut into 12 bars and serve.

Cranberry-Pumpkin Seed Energy Bars

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