Kaya’s Granola Bars with Dried Fruit and Seeds

We are so happy that you have joined us for our next program for our inaugural exhibit, American Girl: 35 Years of Strong Characters. 

For today’s program, we will be making Granola Bars with Dried Fruit and Seeds, a recipe brought to us by American Girl’s character, Kaya. Her story takes place in 1764 in the Pacific Northwest.

Today’s recipe can be found online from Epicurious. The following ingredients and directions make 20 bars. We hope you enjoy Kaya’s Granola Bars with Dried Fruit and Seeds.

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups dried fruit (cherries, raisins, currants, cranberries, and/or blueberries), divided

• 2/3 cup honey

• 1/2 cup creamy almond, peanut, or sunflower butter

• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats, divided

• 1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds

• 1/2 cup raw sesame seeds

• 1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds

• 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

Equipment

• Nonstick vegetable cooking spray

• 13 x 9 inch pan

• Parchment paper

• Food processor

• Wire rack

• Serrated knife

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly coat a 13 x 9 inch pan with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on both long sides; spray parchment.

2. Pulse 3/4 cup fruit and 1/2 cup hot water in a food processor until smooth and incorporated, 3–4 minutes. Add honey, almond butter, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla and pulse until combined, about 15 seconds. Add 1/2 cup oats and pulse until well combined, 30–45 seconds. Add pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, coconut, and remaining 1 cup oats and 1/2 cup fruit. Pulse until just combined, about 15 seconds.

3. Transfer mixture to prepared pan, pressing down until completely even. Bake granola until darkened, firm around the edges, and the center gives just slightly when pressed, about 35 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool in pan. Remove granola using parchment overhang, then cut into 20 bars with a serrated knife.

4. Granola can be made 5 days ahead. Keep tightly wrapped at room temperature. Enjoy with family and friends!
   

Did You Know: The New Percé traveled with the seasons to gather food, hunt and fish? Kaya would often carried fresh or dried berries with her to eat if she got hungry.