Dan bikes to work nearly every day. At least he does when we don’t get a ton of snow overnight. When he gets to work, he’s understandably hungry, and needs a second breakfast. Rather than store-bought bars, I sent him to work with half of these this week.
I kept the rest for myself to snack on in the afternoons. And I’m not sharing my half. They’re just too good!
These bars are soft and tender and full of fruity flavor. I can’t wait to try them with peach butter. Or pumpkin butter….
Apple Cinnamon Spice Granola Bars
Makes 12 bars
1/2 c millet
1 1/2 c whole wheat flour
1 1/4 c oats
1/2 c turbinado sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp chia seeds
2/3 c maple syrup
2/3 c olive oil
1/2 c almond butter*
1 c (1/2 pint) apple butter**
Preheat oven to 350*F and grease a 9″ x 13″ baking pan.
In a large mixing bowl, stir the millet, flour, oats, sugar, salt, baking soda and chia seeds together. In a small bowl, whisk together the syrup, oil and almond butter until mostly smooth. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until all the dry ingredients are coated.
Press 1/2 of the oats mixture into the prepared baking pan. Spread the apple butter evenly over the top. Top with the rest of the oats mixture, and press down with the back of a wooden spoon so that the top layer sticks together.
Bake at 350*F for 45 minutes. Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars.
*Note: If you don’t have almond butter, another nut butter will do just as well.
**Note: If you can’t find apple butter, you can either make your own (cut the recipe in 1/2 or even 1/3) or use another type of fruit preserves. However, I don’t recommend jelly or jam, since they contain too much water!
I’d kill for one of these!
These sound great. I could go for one right now with my lunch.
I need to make these! I’m a granola bar making kick, but I should probably start making some with things like fruit and grains.
This sounds excellent. I love the combination of apples, almond butter, and cinnamon in every other way, so bar form sounds terrific. I’ve never tried cooking with olive oil; can you really not taste it after it’s baked?
Not at all! At least, not in these bars. The nut butter and apple butter overpower the olive oil taste!
We don’t bike to work…but can we still have a second breakfast? These look delicious!
I just had one as a second breakfast, so I say yes!
What a great way to use millet! I always forget about that grain. Pair just about anything with almond butter and I’m in love!
these look so good. i love that they have chia seeds + millet!
this looks great! would pumpkin butter work you think…?
I think so. And it would be delicious, I think!
I definitely need to save this recipe, as I have some almond butter in the fridge and some old apples that are just begging to be used. However, I don’t have any millet on hand. Do you have any recommendations on what I can substitute in for it in the recipe?
You could try quinoa. Or just leave it out altogether!
I just finished making these bars and they are wonderful!! I was a little unsure about the olive oil but Julie is totally right the apple and nut butter overpowering that olive oil taste.
My mixture looked a little wetter than what you have pictured but they came out just fine. Cut up perfectly once cooled. Makes a lot so I’m trying to freeze some.
Did run short on the Apple butter so replaced 1/2C with applesauce! Worked great! And used natural creamy peanut butter since out of almond butter…maybe that explains my wetter mixture!
One question though…the bars are called Apple CINNAMON spice yet there is not cinnamon listed in the recipe! They taste incredible so not sure they need it but how much would you add?
Definately worth making everyone! Will be making these again for sure!
So glad you liked them!
Whoops, my apple butter had tons of spices in it (including cinnamon), so I didn’t even realize that about the cinnamon for anyone who is using a plain apple butter! I’d say add 1/2 – 1 tsp cinnamon? And maybe throw some nutmeg and allspice in there as well
I am definitely saving this recipe!