Make Healthy Homemade Granola Bars for the Road

With plenty of stops at gas stations, road trips with your family can become an unhealthy and expensive excursion. Save money this summer by preparing your very own healthy granola bars to take on the road. There are lots of tasty recipes out there. This is one of our favorites:

Pumpkin Oat & Nut Bars

Ingredients

• ¼ cup coconut oil, warmed
• ¼ cup agave nectar
• 2 cup steel-cut oats
• ⅔ cup dried cranberries
• ⅔ cup roasted pumpkin seeds
• ¼ cup ground flaxseed
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• ½ cup pumpkin puree
• 3 eggs, beaten

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
2. Combine coconut oil and agave nectar and warm in a small bowl until smooth.
3. Mix oats, cranberries, pumpkin seeds, flaxseed, allspice and salt in a large bowl.
4. Stir the pumpkin puree into the dry ingredients, then add the warmed coconut and agave nectar mix. Stir until evenly distributed.
5. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and spread the mixture over the space at about ½ to ¾ inch height.
6. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until edges begin to brown.
7. Let sheet cool. Cut into bars or squares while still warm.
8. Let cool and store in zip lock bags or wrapped in paper.

Road trips are a part of summer – just like lemonade, sunshine and bathing suits. Plan your family road trip at bestwestern.com. Did you know that AAA and CAA members receive 10 percent off when they book with Best Western Rewards?

Recipe inspired by: leelalicious.com