Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make 10 of these near-perfect All-Morning Energy “Granola” Bars:

1/2 cup whole raw almonds
1/2 cup raw cashews
1/3 cup raw pepitas
1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
2 tablespoons flax seeds
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
3 ounces pitted dates, chopped (1/2 cup)
2 tablespoons warm tap water
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 large egg white
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Now just follow these detailed preparation instructions:

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 300 degrees. Make foil sling for 8-inch square baking pan by folding 2 long sheets of aluminum foil so each is 8 inches wide. Lay sheets of foil in pan perpendicular to each other, with extra foil hanging over edges of pan. Push foil into corners and up sides of pan, smoothing foil flush to pan, and grease foil.


2. Spread almonds, cashews, pepitas, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, and sesame seeds onto aluminum foil–lined rimmed baking sheet. Bake, stirring occasionally, until pale golden and fragrant, 15 to 20 minutes. (Be sure not to overcook the nuts and seeds … they will continue to toast while the bars bake.) Transfer nut mixture to food processor, let cool slightly, then pulse until coarsely chopped, about 5 pulses; transfer to large bowl.


3. Process 1/4 cup dates, warm water, maple syrup, egg white, and salt in now-empty processor until smooth, about 30 seconds, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Stir processed date mixture and remaining 1/4 cup chopped dates into nut mixture until well combined. Spread mixture into prepared pan and press firmly into even layer using greased metal spatula. Bake bars until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes, rotating pan halfway through baking. Do not turn off oven.


4. Let bars cool in pan for 15 minutes. Using foil sling, remove bars from pan, transfer to cutting board, and cut into 10 bars. Space bars evenly on parchment paper–lined baking sheet and bake until deep golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Let bars cool on wire rack to room temperature, about 1 hour. (Bars can be stored at room temperature for up to 1 week.) Serve.

Source: America’s Test Kitchen


Continue on to the next page to learn more about the best “Paleo” substitutes used in healthy recipes like this one: