Fruit and Nut Bars - nuts

Method

• 1.
• Preheat the oven to 350-degrees Fahrenheit.
• Prepare an 8x8-inch pan with oil or non-stick cooking spray.
• 2.
• Arrange the nuts on a sheet pan and toast for 10 minutes or until fragrant.
• Allow them to cool and then give them a rough chop.
• Combine the chopped nuts, dried fruit, and cereals in a heat-proof bowl.
• Use your fingers to separate the fruit if it clumps together.
• 3.
• Reduce oven temperature to 300-degrees Fahrenheit.
• 4.
• Combine butter, brown sugar, and honey in a medium sauce pan and stir to moisten the brown sugar.
• Set over medium heat and bring to a boil, swirling the pan once or twice to make sure all the ingredients combine.
• As soon as the sugar mixture comes to a full boil and the sugar is completely dissolved, remove from heat.
• This should take about 5 minutes.
• 5.
• Off the heat, stir in the vanilla, wheat bran, and salt.
• Be careful because the sugar will bubble up.
• Immediately pour sugar syrup over the cereal mixture and use a heat-proof spatula to stir everything together.
• Make sure the nuts, fruits, and cereals are evenly coated.
• Pour the cereal mixture into the pan and use the spatula or wet fingers to press the mixture into the pan as firmly as possible.
• 6.
• Bake 20 minutes for chewy bars or up to 30 minutes for crispier bars.
• Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan.
• Turn out onto a cutting board and use a sharp knife to divide into 8 bars.
• *We like to wrap the individual bars in plastic wrap so we can quickly grab them and go.
• The bars will keep for several weeks in an airtight container, or you can also freeze them.