Hesitant to buy another expensive, sugar-packed, individually wrapped energy bar? This homemade granola bar is a snack that tastes great and is built to survive being bashed around in your pocket or hip bag. Without further ado, here’s the recipe:

Ingredients – (makes 10 – 12 bars)

3 cups (300g) rolled oats

½ cup (50g) chopped raw almonds

½ cup (100g) butter

3 tablespoons honey

1 ½ cup (300g) dates

⅛ cup (15g) pumpkin seeds

⅛ cup (15g) dried cranberries

Method –

• Preheat the oven to 160°C.
• Spread the oats onto a baking tray and toast them in the oven for about 15min.
• In the meantime, simmer the dates (pits removed) in a pot with ½ cup of water for ten minutes, or until soft. Let the dates cool down for a bit, then blend them to a smooth puree.
• Combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir until all ingredients are covered.
• Spread the mixture onto a baking tray lined with baking paper and put it in the oven at 160°C for about 25 min.
• Remove the tray from the oven, let it cool down before placing another baking parchment on top then adding another baking tray (or flat object) on top with some weight to hold it down (I used water bottles).
• Let it cool fully overnight, cut the bars, and enjoy.