These are my favorite grain-free granola bars of all time! Nuts and seeds folded into a sticky mixture of coconut oil, honey and vanilla. Simple and sweet. Nothing complicated.
These bars are a combination of soaked and dehydrated almonds, cashews, coconut, soaked and dehydrated seeds, coconut oil, raw honey, vanilla and sea salt.
It’s important to understand that raw nuts and seeds contain enzyme inhibitors that block digestion – potentially causing negative effects on the health of the body.
Over time, when we consume these raw foods without properly preparing them, serious health issues like leaky gut, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and autoimmune problems can arise.
Soaking these foods may sound intimidating, but it’s actually very easy! It basically involves putting the food in a bowl, covering it with water, adding a neutralizer, letting it sit at room temperature, and then draining.
It takes a little forethought, but your body will certainly thank you!
Here’s more info about how to soak nuts and seeds.
If you would rather not soak and dehydrate the seeds and nuts, then just make sure and buy sprouted. Sprouted seeds and nuts can be found at most health foods stores.
These bars can be adapted with dozens of different ingredients. Substitute your favorite dried fruits for the seeds, add a little flax (I suggest this only for the dehydrated method so the flaxseed oil doesn’t oxidize), or spread the mixture out on a larger sheet and make a sticky-sweet granola to use as a cereal in the morning.
Granola Bars (Grain Free, Paleo, Gluten Free, Gaps)
These bars can be adapted with dozens of different ingredients. Swap out whichever nuts, seeds, or dried fruits you’d like!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Diet: Gluten Free
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300ºF and adjust rack to middle position. Line an 11 x 7-inch baking pan with parchment paper so the sides of paper overhang.
- Place the almonds, cashews, coconut and seeds in a large mixing bowl. Heat oil, honey and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer. Stir in the vanilla and pour mixture over nut mixture. Fold until incorporated. Pour mixture into the baking dish and press into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Cool completely before cutting (this step is very important. If you cut while they are warm, they will fall apart). Holding onto the parchment, gently lift the bars out of the pan and place on a cutting board. Using a large knife, cut granola into bars. Keep in an airtight container for 10 days.
Dehydration Method:
- If you took the time to soak and dehydrate the nuts and seeds then you might want to use this option to bake the bars – Follow instructions above and dehydrate at 170ºF (or as low as your oven will go) for about 7-8 hours, until the outer edges are just slightly golden brown. Cool completely before cutting.
A few tips:
- To ensure the granola cuts into clean uniform bars, I usually start in the middle and cut with a large chefs knife. You can also put the granola bars in the refrigerator after baking for 30 minutes to ensure the honey (the glue that binds the bars together) hardens to make cutting easier (this step can be helpful if you live in a humid climate).
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Makes 12-16 bars
