Fruit and Nut Granola Bars

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons cinnamon 
• 0.5 cup brown sugar dark packed
• 0.5 cup apples dried finely chopped
• 1 large eggs 
• 0.5 cup golden raisins 
• 0.3 cup maple syrup 
• 2 cups quick-cooking oats 
• 0.5 teaspoon salt 
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 
• 0.5 cup vegetable oil 
• 0.5 cup walnuts chopped
• 0.5 cup wheat germ 
• 1 cup flour whole-wheat

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• oven
• knife
• whisk
• wire rack
• baking pan
• aluminum foil

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with foil; mist foil with cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, mix oats, brown sugar, flour, wheat germ, cinnamon and salt, breaking up any lumps of brown sugar. Toss in raisins, apples and nuts. In a separate bowl, whisk maple syrup, egg, oil and vanilla.
3. Pour maple syrup mixture into oat mixture and combine well, using your hands.
4. Press mixture into baking pan and bake until just turning golden brown around edges, 30 to 35 minutes.
5. Place on a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes. Using a sharp knife, cut into bars in pan while still warm.
6. Let cool further before removing from pan to rack to cool completely.