Description
Delicious and wholesome Maple Pecan and Cranberry Bars combining the natural sweetness of maple syrup with crunchy pecans, tart dried cranberries, and hearty rolled oats. These bars are easy to prepare, baked to golden perfection, and perfect for a nutritious snack or breakfast on the go.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats (about 180 g)
- 1 cup pecans, chopped (about 120 g)
- 1 cup dried cranberries (about 150 g)
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup maple syrup (about 120 ml)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed (about 100 g)
- 1/2 cup butter (1 stick, about 115 g), melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (about 5 ml)
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (about 3 g)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the bars.
- Prepare the baking pan: Line an 8×8-inch (20×20 cm) baking pan with parchment paper so the bars can be easily removed after baking.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine rolled oats, chopped pecans, and dried cranberries ensuring they are well distributed.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together melted butter, maple syrup, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and sea salt until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Combine mixtures: Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with dry ingredients and gently stir until every component is evenly coated with the syrupy mixture.
- Press mixture into pan: Transfer this mixture into the prepared baking pan, pressing it firmly and evenly across the bottom for a uniform thickness.
- Bake the bars: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the edges turn a golden brown color.
- Cool and set: Remove from the oven and let cool for about 10 minutes in the pan. Then, use the parchment to lift the bars out and place them on a wire rack to cool completely before cutting into squares or bars.
Notes
- Ensure the butter is melted but not hot to avoid melting the cranberries.
- Press the mixture firmly into the pan to help the bars hold together.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week or freeze for longer storage.
- You can substitute pecans with walnuts or almonds if preferred.
- For a vegan version, replace butter with coconut oil or a plant-based butter.
