Pistachio Stone Fruits Granola Bar

Author: Renée S. Status: published Published: Oct 05,2009 license cc-by-nc-nd tags: fruit, healthy, recipe, vanilla, pistachio, From Renée's kitchen, strawberry, baked goods, nut, almond, peach, apricot, honey, brandy, Alton Brown, cherry, Good Eats, bar, flax seed, Rainier cherry, vanilla brandy, flax, granola, oat, 0   Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

This was version 2 - using ingredients I really love - namely pistachios. In thinking of what dried fruits go well with the nut, I chose apricots, cherries and strawberries. I added unsulfured dried peaches to the mix as well (pre-soaked along with the freeze dried strawberries). This time omitting the coconut (which in retrospect, I probably should have added because the sweet bars were missing that aromatic essence) I opted to use my homemade vanilla bean brandy in replacement of the regular vanilla extract. Still wholesome and yummy, I think my next batch might include a couple other elements (e.g. some toasted coconut and some crisped rice cereal - if I remember to add it) to bring it over the top.

Again, the original recipe which I've now modified was from Alton Brown.

Ingredients:
4 oz old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 oz almond flour
1 1/2 oz toasted pistachio nuts
1 oz organic flax seeds
3 oz. liquid honey
1 oz dark brown sugar
1/2 oz unsalted butter, plus extra for pan
1 teaspoon homemade vanilla bean brandy
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt (if the pistachios are unsalted)
3 1/2 ounces chopped dried fruit (I used organic apricots, unsulfured peaches, Rainier cherries, and strawberries )

Method:
1. Line a 9 by 6 1/2-inch baking pan with a buttered piece of parchment paper and set aside.

2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

3. Spread the oats, almond flour, pistachios and flax seed onto a half-sheet pan. Place in the oven and toast for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Combine the honey, brown sugar, butter, extract and salt in a medium saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook until the brown sugar has completely dissolved.

5. Once the oat mixture is done, remove it from the oven and reduce the heat to 300 degrees F. Immediately add the oat mixture to the liquid mixture, add the dried fruit, and stir to combine.

6. Turn mixture out into the prepared baking pan and press down, evenly distributing the mixture in the dish and place in the oven to bake for 25 minutes.

7. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Cut into bars and store in an airtight container for up to a week.

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