Thick, Chewy Granola Bars

-adapted from Smitten Kitchen

photo credit: http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2010/02/thick-chewy-granola-bars

1 2/3 cups rolled oats

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup oat flour (1/3 cup oats, processed till finely ground in a food processor or blender)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 1/2 cups dried fruit and nuts, pulsed in the food processor*

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

6 tablespoons melted butter

1/3 cup almond butter (any other nut butter can be substituted)

1/4 cup honey

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8″ x 8″ x 2″ pan with parchment paper.

Stir together all the dry ingredients, including the fruit and nuts. In a separate bowl, whisk together the vanilla, melted butter, nut butter and honey. Toss the wet ingredients with the dry. Spread in the prepared pan, pressing firmly to ensure they are molded to the shape of the pan. (A piece of plastic wrap can help with this, as you press down on the back of it.)

Bake the bars for 30 to 40 minutes, until they’re brown around the edges. They may seem soft directly from the oven but will hold together well once cooled.  To store, wrap the bars individually in plastic or stack them in an airtight container; they can be stored in the fridge or counter depending on how soon you'll eat them.

*I like to use a combination of almonds, walnuts, coconut, apricots, and dried cranberries. Other suggestions include: dried blueberries, cherries, pecans, or wheat germ.