Choco Berry Bars

The aroma these bars put in the air when baking is almost as good as eating them...

Choco Berry Bars

5 cups organic old fashioned oats
1 cup chopped walnuts
2 Tbsp coconut oil
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup organic sucanat
1/2 cup raw honey
2 Tbsp vanilla

1/4 cup whole flaxseed
1/2 cup dried cranberries*
1/2 cup dried cherries*
1/2 cup dark chocolate chunks

1) Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix oats, nuts, oil and salt together (may need to use your hands if your coconut oil is solid) and spread in 9 by 13 pan and bake for 18 minutes stirring occasionally.

2)Combine brown sugar, honey and agave in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until sugar is melted. Add vanilla extract. Keep stirring.

3) Remove oat mixture from oven and transfer back to mixing bowl Turn oven down to 300. Stir in flaxseed, berries and chocolate, then pour in sugar mixture and mix well. Spread back into pan and bake for another 25-30 minutes until golden brown.

***Note: when choosing dried fruits, be very careful to check ingredients. Organic or not, many of them contain added sugars and hydrogenated oils, such as canola, sunflower or safflower. Do your best and be picky when choosing any dried fruit with as little of the 'extras' as possible!