These coconut cashew granola bars are a delightful blend of crunchy cashews and sweet shredded coconut, all held together with a luscious mix of honey and coconut oil. Perfect for a quick snack or a healthy breakfast on the go, these bars are both satisfying and nutritious.
While most of the ingredients for this recipe are common pantry staples, you might need to pick up shredded coconut and coconut oil if they are not already in your kitchen. These ingredients can usually be found in the baking aisle or the health food section of your local supermarket.
Ingredients for Coconut Cashew Granola Bars
Rolled oats: The base of the granola bars, providing a hearty texture and nutritional benefits.
Shredded coconut: Adds a sweet, tropical flavor and chewy texture to the bars.
Cashews: Chopped for added crunch and a rich, buttery taste.
Honey: Acts as a natural sweetener and binding agent.
Coconut oil: Helps to bind the ingredients together and adds a subtle coconut flavor.
Brown sugar: Adds sweetness and helps to caramelize the bars.
Vanilla extract: Enhances the overall flavor with a hint of vanilla.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the flavors of the other ingredients.
Technique Tip for Making Granola Bars
When pressing the mixture into the baking dish, use a piece of parchment paper to cover the top and then press down firmly with a flat-bottomed object like a measuring cup. This ensures even compression, which helps the granola bars hold together better once they are baked and cooled.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
rolled oats - Substitute with quinoa flakes: Quinoa flakes provide a similar texture and are a good source of protein and fiber.
shredded coconut - Substitute with chopped almonds: Chopped almonds add a crunchy texture and a nutty flavor, similar to shredded coconut.
cashews - Substitute with almonds: Almonds offer a similar crunch and nutty flavor, making them a good alternative to cashews.
honey - Substitute with maple syrup: Maple syrup provides a similar sweetness and consistency, making it an excellent substitute for honey.
coconut oil - Substitute with olive oil: Olive oil can be used as a healthier fat alternative, though it will impart a slightly different flavor.
brown sugar - Substitute with coconut sugar: Coconut sugar has a similar sweetness and can add a slight caramel flavor, making it a good substitute for brown sugar.
vanilla extract - Substitute with almond extract: Almond extract offers a different but complementary flavor, adding a unique twist to the granola bars.
salt - Substitute with sea salt: Sea salt provides the same salty flavor but with a slightly different mineral content, enhancing the overall taste.
Alternative Recipes Similar to Granola Bars
How to Store or Freeze Your Granola Bars
Allow the granola bars to cool completely before storing. This ensures they hold their shape and maintain their delightful crunch.
For short-term storage, place the granola bars in an airtight container. Layer them with parchment paper to prevent sticking. Store at room temperature for up to one week.
If you prefer to keep them longer, refrigerate the granola bars in an airtight container. This will extend their freshness for up to two weeks.
For freezing, wrap each granola bar individually in plastic wrap or parchment paper. This prevents them from sticking together and makes it easy to grab a single bar when needed.
Place the wrapped granola bars in a freezer-safe bag or container. Label with the date to keep track of their freshness.
Freeze the granola bars for up to three months. When you're ready to enjoy one, simply take it out of the freezer and let it thaw at room temperature for a few minutes.
For a quick snack, you can also enjoy the granola bars straight from the freezer. They will be slightly firmer but still delicious.
If you notice any changes in texture or flavor, it's best to discard the granola bars as they may have lost their freshness.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Place the granola bars on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Warm them for about 5-10 minutes, or until they are heated through. This method helps to maintain their crispiness.
Use a microwave for a quick reheat. Place the granola bars on a microwave-safe plate and cover them with a damp paper towel. Heat on medium power for 20-30 seconds. Be cautious not to overheat, as this can make them too soft.
For a stovetop method, use a non-stick skillet over low heat. Place the granola bars in the skillet and cover with a lid. Heat for about 2-3 minutes on each side, or until warmed through. This method can help to slightly toast the edges, adding a delightful crunch.
If you have a toaster oven, preheat it to 300°F (150°C). Place the granola bars on the toaster oven tray and heat for 5-7 minutes. This method is perfect for small batches and keeps the bars crispy.
For an air fryer, preheat to 300°F (150°C). Place the granola bars in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Heat for 3-5 minutes, checking frequently to avoid overcooking. This method ensures an even reheat and maintains the texture.
Essential Tools for Making Granola Bars
Oven: Used to bake the granola bars to achieve a golden brown finish.
Baking dish: The container where the granola mixture is pressed and baked.
Parchment paper: Lining for the baking dish to prevent sticking and make it easier to remove the bars.
Large bowl: For mixing the oats, shredded coconut, and chopped cashews together.
Small saucepan: Used to heat and melt the honey, coconut oil, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and salt.
Spatula: Useful for mixing the wet and dry ingredients thoroughly.
Measuring cups: Essential for accurately measuring the oats, shredded coconut, cashews, honey, and coconut oil.
Measuring spoons: Necessary for measuring the vanilla extract and salt.
Knife: For chopping the cashews into smaller pieces.
Cutting board: A surface to safely chop the cashews.
Cooling rack: Allows the granola bars to cool completely before cutting.
Sharp knife: Used to cut the cooled granola into bars.
How to Save Time on Making Granola Bars
Pre-measure ingredients: Measure out all ingredients like rolled oats, shredded coconut, and chopped cashews before starting to streamline the process.
Use a food processor: Quickly chop cashews using a food processor to save time.
Microwave the liquid mixture: Instead of using a saucepan, microwave the honey, coconut oil, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and salt in a microwave-safe bowl for quicker melting.
Line the baking dish ahead: Prepare the baking dish with parchment paper before mixing to save time later.
Cool in the fridge: Speed up the cooling process by placing the granola bars in the fridge.
Coconut Cashew Granola Bars Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 1 cup cashews, chopped
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mix oats, shredded coconut, and chopped cashews.
- In a small saucepan, combine honey, coconut oil, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. Heat until melted and smooth.
- Pour the liquid mixture over the dry ingredients and mix well.
- Press the mixture firmly into the prepared baking dish.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
- Let cool completely before cutting into bars.
Nutritional Value
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