If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, imagine what a healthy apple pie granola bar could accomplish? Loaded with antioxidants and mixed with rolled oats, dried fruit, and natural sugar from Medjool dates, these are basically everything you want in a snack bar—with nothing you don’t! These healthy granola bars will not only satisfy your sugar cravings but keep you energized as well.

Granola bars always sound really healthy, but the store-bought versions are often what I would refer to as a wolf in sheep’s clothing. They are typically loaded with added sugars, hydrogenated oils, and have very little whole grains, protein, or fiber in them. That’s one reason I am all about making my own healthy apple pie granola bar, and considering you can typically do so for fractions on the dollar, it’s a win-win.

With each recipe I create, I try and raise the bar in terms of the nutrition composition, but I also like trying out new flavor combinations, incorporating a little sweet and a little savory until I get just the right balance.

My kids consider them a treat, and I can rest easy knowing I have given them a healthier alternative to the candy bars that are cleverly marketed as granola bars.

I often make a giant batch of these healthy granola bars when I do my meal prep on Sunday, as they come in very handy when I am trying to rush two kids out the door for school. If kept refrigerated, they can last up to a week, and they also do very well in the freezer for several weeks (though they rarely last that long!).

Healthy Apple Pie Granola Bar

Ingredients:

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut shredded
• 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/3 cup dates
• 1 Tbsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1 cup dried apples, chopped

Directions:

1. 1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
   2. Bake the oats, coconut, and pecans for approximately 10 minutes until golden brown.
   3. Blend dates in a food processor until they reach a paste-like consistency.
   4. Over medium heat, combine coconut oil, honey, and vanilla, and gradually stir in dates.
   5. Incorporate all of the ingredients (including the first 3) together in a bowl and mix until well combined.
   6. Press the mixture into a 13X9 pan, and cover. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm.
   7. Remove from refrigerator and cut into 20 bars.

Nutrition Information (per serving):
Servings: 20

• Calories: 155
• Fat: 8g
• Carbohydrates: 19g
• Fiber: 3g
• Sugar: 5g
• Protein: 3g

Facts About The Healthy Apple Pie Granola Bar

Nutmeg: Nutmeg is actually produced from a seed which comes from evergreen trees coincidentally indigenous to the Spice Islands. Nutmeg has many beneficial, healthy applications as it’s rich in many vital B-complex vitamins, including folic acid, riboflavin, niacin, as well as vitamin C, vitamin A, and many flavonoid antioxidants like beta-carotene and cryptoxanthin.

Cinnamon: Cinnamon has been shown to support healthy blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity by inhibiting the activity of certain carbohydrate-digesting enzymes. Not only that, but it is also loaded with antioxidants and may help reduce inflammation.

Dried Apples: Apples are a source of both insoluble and soluble fiber. Insoluble fiber supports a healthy digestive system, and soluble fiber helps control cholesterol. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the caloric content of fruit that has been dehydrated is approximately twice that of the fresh version. That being said, dried fruit contains no fat, cholesterol, or sodium, and just 1/4 cup of dried fruit equals 1 serving of fruit.

Medjool Dates: Dates provide just the right amount of sweetness, and they’re also packed with fiber. Medjool dates, or as more commonly referred to, the King of Dates, provide benefits such as absorption of iron as well as supporting the formation of collagen and red blood cells, as well as providing nutrients for a healthy nervous system and energy generation.

These delicious ingredients include several important B-complex vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, and folates, as well as minerals like manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and selenium.