Dark Chocolate Chunk Quinoa Granola Bars

• 1 cup Old Fashioned Oats (make Sure They're Certified Gluten Free)
• 1 cup Quinoa, Uncooked
• 1 cup Sliced Almonds
• 1 cup Shredded Coconut (mine Was Sweetened)
• 1/2 cups Toasted Wheat Germ
• 3 Tablespoons Coconut Oil, Measured Out While At Room Temperature
• 23 cups Honey (some Vegans Will Eat Honey, Other Won't, So Keep That In Mind!)
• 1/4 cups Dark Brown Sugar (packed)
• 1- 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1/4 teaspoons Salt
• 1/2 cups Chopped & Pitted Dates
• 1/4 cups Dried Cherry Craisins
• 1/2 cups Dark Chocolate Chips (if Vegan, Make Sure You're Purchasing Vegan Chocolate Chips)

1. Preheat your oven to 350 F. Butter an 8 x 12 inch glass baking dish (or a similar size) and line it with parchment paper.
2. Combine the oats, quinoa, almonds, and coconut together on an unlined baking pan and bake for 12 minutes, or until lightly browned, stirring every 4 minutes.
3. Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl and stir in the wheat germ.
4. Reduce the oven temperature to 300 F.
5. Place the oil, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat.
6. Bring to a boil (the mixture will start foaming).
7. Once boiling, cook for 60 seconds, stirring constantly.
8. Pour the syrup over the toasted oatmeal mixture.
9. Add the dates and Craisins and stir well.
10. Stir in the dark chocolate chunks.
11. Because the mixture is so warm, you will find some of the chocolate melting.
12. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and gently, but firmly press the mixture evenly into the pan using your fingers.
13. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the granola is a light golden brown color.
14. Remove from oven.
15. Cool for at least 2 to 3 hours before removing from the pan and cutting into squares.
16. Store in an airtight container at room temperature!
17. Notes: 1.
18. Make sure that your oats are certified gluten-free.
19. 2.
20. These do contain honey.
21. Ive seen some vegans eat honey, others dont, so keep that in mind!
22. I havent tried to sub the honey with agave, but if you do, please let me know the results!

oats, quinoa, almonds, coconut, toasted wheat germ, coconut oil, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, salt, dates, craisins, chocolate chips

Taken from tastykitchen.com/recipes/special-dietary-needs/gluten-free/dark-chocolate-chunk-quinoa-granola-bars/ (may not work)