Super Seedy Granola Bars

Fuel their back-to-school adventure with these one-bowl, easy bake bars that are ideal for lunchboxes and full of natural goodness.

Makes 12 bars

200g old fashioned rolled oats
100g butter
70g light brown sugar
100g dried fruit (raisins, chopped dates, cranberries, etc.)
100g sunflower seeds
2 tbsp flax seeds
2 tbsp chia seeds
3 tbsp honey or maple syrup
1 tsp dried cinnamon

1   Heat oven to 160C/Fan 140C/Gas Mark 3. Grease and line the base of an 18cm x 25cm tin. Combine the butter, honey/syrup and brown sugar in a small saucepan over a medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally until the butter melts and the sugar completely dissolves.

2   Pour the butter and sugar mixture into a large bowl with the oats, seeds, dried fruit and cinnamon (if adding chocolate chips wait five minutes for mixture to cool before adding). Once thoroughly combined, pour the granola mix into the pan, packing it down firmly with the back of a spoon.

3   Bake the bars for 30 minutes or until golden in colour. Wait for the pan to cool entirely before cutting into 12 even bars. Granola bars can be stored for up to a week in an airtight container.

Top Tips:

• Ensure your finished granola bars don’t crumble by packing down the mixture well in the pan before baking and leaving to chill in the fridge for an hour after.
• Feel free to use whatever seeds or dried fruit you have at hand – you could even include chocolate chips!
• Add an extra depth of flavour to your bars by toasting your oats and seeds first. Simply place them in your clean, dry baking pan and place in the oven for 5-10 minutes - watching carefully in case they burn.