Cocoa-Coconut Granola Bars

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch square baking dish.

2. Spread rolled oats, flax seed meal, sliced almonds, shredded coconut, and chia seeds onto a baking sheet.

3. Toast oats mixture in preheated oven, stirring every 5 minutes, until lightly toasted, about 15 minutes.

4. Reduce oven heat to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).

5. Combine honey, brown sugar, coconut oil, vanilla extract, coconut extract, ground cinnamon, and salt together in a saucepan over medium-low heat; cook and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved, about 3 minutes. Stir cocoa powder into the honey mixture until dissolved.

6. Mix toasted oat mixture and the honey mixture in a large bowl and stir until the dry ingredients are coated; spread into the prepared baking dish and press into an even layer.

7. Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes.

8. Cool bars in pan for 10 minutes, immediately cut into squares, and remove from pan.

Cook's Notes:

This recipe is very versatile. You can add dried fruits, chocolate chips, or other grains and spices.

The sweeteners are interchangeable as well. My favorite combo is half raw agave nectar and half maple syrup, but you can even use maple syrup.