Nutty Breakfast Bars

Nutty Breakfast Bars (Adapted from Mayo Clinic)

1/4 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup sunflower seed kernels
2 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup soy flour (full fat if possible)
1/2 cup dry milk
1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
1/2 cup dried cinnamon spiced apples, chopped
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup brown rice syrup
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup fresh ground (or natural) peanut butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 325

Place nuts on a baking sheet and place in the oven to toast for about 4-8 minutes - just until they turn a light golden. Remove and let cool.

In a large bowl, mix together almonds, pecans, sunflower seed kernels, rolled oats, soy flour, dry milk, wheat germ, dried apples, raisins and salt.

In a saucepan, mix together brown rice syrup, maple syrup, peanut butter and oil. Heat over medium-low, stirring frequently, until well combined. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

Quickly pour the warm mixture into the dry ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon until well combined.

Scoop mixture into a 9x13" pan coated with nonstick spray. Lightly coat fingers with nonstick spray, or water, and firmly pat the mixture into an even layer.

Bake about 20-25 minutes, turning around halfway through, until the edges turn a rich golden brown. Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Cut into bars and continue to cool until you can easily handle them. Move to a wire rack and cool competely.

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