Cranberry Pistachio Granola Bars

A light snack bar packed with flavors of sweet cranberries, nutty pistachio crunch, and a hint of creamy peanut butter, bittersweet chocolate and honey.   

I am thrilled to tell you how excited I am to have been able to meet so many successful and talented food bloggers at the BlogHer Food Conference held over the weekend in Miami, Florida.  It was truly an exhilarating experience to finally be able see bloggers who I’ve admired and to get to know some of them on a more personal level.  One of the best highlights of the event was being able to get our dance on at the Closing Party.  Something I never imagined ever doing.

I’ll cut the juicy details here on who I’ve met and all the craziness that happened in a later post this week with some additional photos you may have not seen.  For now, these granola bars is one snack I got to tell ya, I cannot travel without, ever again!

These days when I travel, I like to pack a few snacks to munch on.  Reason is, you just never know when your next meal will be when you’re flying.  From delayed flights to being frazzled from left behind luggage at another airport (yes, this has happened before and when it does- nothing else in the world matters because you’re in panic mode!) to those measly snacks airlines give, I’d rather fly a bit more prepared.

Ever heard of the word, “hangry?”  Yea, that’s how I get when I go too long without eating and it’s not pretty.  To avoid ever getting hangry, I made these granola bars and packed a few into my carry-on the day before leaving to Florida.  Best decision because Thursday felt as though I was in air almost all day!  From my understanding, I believe flights from NY to FL should only take 3 hours, right?  I left around 8ish in the morning and arrived to the hotel in Miami by 9 PM!  From unknown delays, a transfer in Nashville, TN and that terrible storm in Miami that left mostly everyone in a frenzy you can see my point in why I pack a few light snacks.

I kind of feel like those old Snickers TV commercials but it’s true.  The bars were very much needed.

Not only are these bars convenient to carry with you, the recipe itself can be made to fit your preference(s).  Don’t like cranberries?  No problem.  Swap it for dried cherries or any dried fruit.  Pistachios can be swapped for almonds and peanut butter for almond butter… the list goes on.  There are so many possible variations it would be hard to not find one you could enjoy.

Cranberry Pistachio Granola Bars

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• Author: Connie
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 8 bars 1x

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Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 cups uncooked old-fashioned rolled oats
• 3/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup salted, dry roasted pistachios, chopped
• 1/3 cup shredded sweetened coconut, chopped
• 2 tablespoons flaxseed meal
• 1 ounce bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 6 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/4 tablespoon salt

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Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat an 8-inch square baking pan evenly with cooking spray; set aside.
2. In a large baking sheet, spread oats evenly. Bake for 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool for a few minutes.
3. In a large bowl, Mix browned oats, cranberries, pistachios, coconut, flaxseed meal and chocolate; set aside.
4. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine peanut butter, honey, oil and salt; bring to a boil for 1 minute, stir constantly.
5. Pour peanut butter mixture over oat mixture and toss well to coat.
6. Press mixture into prepared square baking pan. Bake for 13 minutes or until lightly browned. Allow to cool completely in pan before removing.
7. Cut 1 x 4-inch bars. ENJOY!

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes

Cranberry Pistachio Granola Bars recipe adapted from Cranberry Pistachio Energy Bars from Cooking Light magazine April 2014.