crunchy blueberry almond granola bars

Yet another attempt at the perfect snack. Is it even out there? Maybe it is, maybe its not, I don't know.
But I do know one thing, I need snacks all the time. In all shapes, sizes, flavors, and colors. I am.... a snacker. So, I continue my quest for homemade and healthy things I can take with me and eat anytime, anywhere.

These crunchy creations were my first attempt at a baked bar. They worked out pretty well! Although I was expecting them to be more of a chewy bar than a crunchy bar. hmmm, any ideas? What would make them chewy?

Back to the bars:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.

• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 3/4 cup brown rice syrup
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup chopped almonds
• 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1 cup dried blueberries
• 2 Tbsp flax seed meal
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Melt pb, coconut oil, and brown rice syrup over low heat, just enough to combine completely. Chop almonds to desired size and combine with all other dry ingredients in a large bowl.

Pour melted syrup mixture over dry ingredients and toss until completely coated. Transfer mixture onto lined cookie sheet and spread out to the edges. Use a piece of plastic wrap to compress it all into the tray, the more flat and compressed you can get it, the better your bars are going to stick together. The plastic wrap is just so your hands don't stick to the mixture. If you have another method of compacting it, feel free! And let me know what it is!

Place cookie sheet in oven on middle rack and back for 15-20. If you want crispier bars, just bake them a little longer, at 20 minutes they will still be chewy.

Remove from oven and allow to cool before moving. If you try to cut them, or move them when it is hot, it will all just fall apart, and you will have delicious granola! So, when they are mostly cool, lift the whole tray out with the parchment paper, cut into bars! I have to store mine in the fridge because of the ant problem in hawaii, but I think they would do fine just on the counter, in another climate without ants.