Ingredients

  • Time: About 50 minutes, plus time for cooling
  • 6 tablespoons grapeseed oil, or other neutral oil, plus extra for brushing pan
  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 1 1/2 cups mixed dried fruit, such as raisins, cherries, apricots, papaya, pineapple and cranberries (at least 3 kinds, cut into small pieces if large)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cardamom or cinnamon.
  • 1/2 cup mixed seeds, such as pumpkin, sunflower and sesame
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • Pinch of salt

Method

  • 1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9-inch-square baking pan with parchment paper or foil, letting a few inches hang over side of pan. Brush with oil.
  • 2. Spread oats and seeds on another baking pan and toast in oven just until golden and fragrant, 6 to 8 minutes, shaking pan once.
  • 3. In a saucepan, combine oil, honey, brown sugar, maple syrup and salt. Stir over medium heat until smooth and hot. In a mixing bowl, toss together toasted oats and seeds, dried fruit and cardamom. Pour hot sugar mixture over and stir until well combined.
  • 4. While mixture is warm, transfer to prepared pan, pressing into pan evenly with an offset spatula.
  • 5. Bake until brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer pan to a rack and let cool completely. Using the overhanging foil or paper, lift out of pan and place on a work surface. Cut into bars, about 1 1/2 inches by 3 inches.