Dark Chocolate Brownie Granola Bars

Dark Chocolate Brownie Granola Bars puts honey, salt and vanilla extract at the center of a breakfast recipe and finishes in about 45 minutes, enough for 24 Bars (9X13-inch pan of bars).

• Yield 24 Bars (9X13-inch pan of bars)
• Ready in 45 minutes
• Prep 20 minutes
• Cook 25 minutes

Ingredients

Bars

• 2 cups ( 200 g ) old-fashioned oats , (gluten-free, if needed)
• 1 cup ( 120 g ) chopped almonds
• ½ cup ( 43 g ) Dutch-process or dark cocoa powder
• ½ cup ( 57 g ) almond flour
• ¾ cup ( 64 g ) sweetened or unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1 cup ( 170 g ) semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips

Syrup

• ½ cup ( 113 g ) coconut oil , melted
• ¼ cup ( 53 g ) brown sugar
• ¼ cup honey
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9X13-inch pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the oats, almonds, cocoa, almond flour, and coconut.
3. In a small bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together the coconut oil, brown sugar, honey, salt and vanilla. It's ok if it separates a bit.
4. Stir the syrup mixture into the dry ingredients until evenly combined. Add the chocolate chips and toss together.
5. Press the mixture lightly into the prepared pan until it is in an even layer. The harder you press, the less crumbly the bars will be, but don't overdo it. A gentle press with the palms of your hands should do it.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes (decrease time for softer bars or increase for extra crunchiness). The bars will look soft coming out of the oven but will set up and get crispier as they cool.

Cool the pan before you lift the squares.