Not Smart Snack
Link: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/nut_free_chocolate_cherry_snack_bars.html
Recipe:
Yield: 16 servings (1 bar per serving)
Ingredients:
2 ½ cups unsweetened puffed wheat cereal
¾ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
½ cup dried cherries or dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
½ cup honey
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
⅛ teaspoon salt
½ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips or finely chopped bittersweet chocolate
Directions:
1. Position a rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 300°F. Line an 8-inch-square pan with
parchment paper, letting it overhang on two opposite sides.
2. Toss cereal, oats and dried cherries (or cranberries) in a large bowl.
3. Combine honey, vanilla and salt in a small saucepan. Warm over medium heat, stirring, until the
honey is more fluid and the salt is dissolved. Pour the honey mixture over the dry ingredients
and fold until everything is moistened and sticky. Let cool for 5 minutes. Fold in chips (or
chopped chocolate) until evenly distributed. Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan and
spread evenly with a fork. Using the back of the fork, press the mixture very firmly all over.
(Alternatively, cover with parchment paper and press firmly all over.)
4. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 35 minutes. (If in doubt, take it out so the honey does
not burn.) Run a knife along the unlined sides of the pan to detach the bars. Let cool in the pan
on a wire rack to room temperature, about 1 hour. Use the ends of the parchment to lift the
bars from the pan. Gently peel off the parchment. Use a heavy sharp knife to cut into 16 bars or
squares.
