Cranberry Nut Oatmeal Granola Bars

Recipe View Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper or waxed paper. (5 minutes)

Recipe View In a large bowl, combine oats, cranberries, pecans, ground flax seed, chocolate chips, and wheat germ. Mix well to ensure even distribution. (5 minutes)

Recipe View In a separate, microwave-safe bowl, whisk together brown sugar, honey, vegetable oil, and salt. Microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir, and microwave again for another 30 seconds, or until the mixture is smooth and slightly bubbly. (2 minutes)

Recipe View Stir in vanilla extract and ground cinnamon into the warm brown sugar mixture until fragrant. (1 minute)

Recipe View Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients, stirring until everything is evenly coated and the chocolate chips begin to melt slightly. (3 minutes)

Recipe View Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish, pressing firmly and evenly with the back of a spoon or spatula to create a compact layer. (2 minutes)

Recipe View Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center is set. (30 minutes)

Recipe View Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Then, using the parchment paper overhang, lift the granola bars out of the pan and transfer to a cutting board. Let cool completely before slicing into bars. (1 hour)