Granola Bars -Oat Free (Dairy, Gluten and Refined Sugar Free with a Nut Free Option) )

I have tried making granola bars several times but these were by the far the best, as they didn't crumble all over the place.  I did make these with nuts but you could substitute more seeds to make them school friendly.  They have been great for breakfast and or for taking as an on the go snack.

Ingredients

• 1 cup rice cereal (I like Nature's Path Crispy Rice Cereal)
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup chopped raisins and/or prunes
• 1/2 cup chopped almonds or cashews (example pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds or hemp seeds)
• 2 tablespoons ground flax or chia seeds
• 1/2 cup honey or other natural sweeteners if vegan
• 2 tablespoons sunflower seed butter
• 1 teaspoon gluten free vanilla
• 1/4 cup gluten/dairy free chocolate chips (optional, I did not add any)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F and line a 9x9 baking dish with parchment paper.
2. In a food processor add, raisins/prunes and nuts.  Chop into smaller pieces.
3. In a pot on low heat combine, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, honey and sunflower seed butter.  Heat until soft enough to fully stir and combine.  
4. In a large bowl combine cereal, coconut, flax seeds, chocolate chips and chopped fruit/nuts mixture.
5. Pour honey and sunflower seed butter mixture over cereal and nuts bowl.  Using a wooden spoon or hands fully combine all ingredients until well coated.
6. Pour mixture into prepared pan.
7. Bake for 10 minutes then score the bars into desired sizes but cutting with a knife halfway through batter.
8. Cook another 10 minutes or until golden brown on top.
9. Fully cool and then cut into bar sizes and remove from pan.
10. Keep in sealed container in the fridge.