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    Home / Recipes / Course / Breakfast

    4 Jun 3, 2012 Breakfast  |   Jump to Recipe

    Granola Bars with Coconut, Currants and Almonds

    Granola Bars with Coconut, Currants and Almonds

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    After several long days of packing, organizing, cleaning and moving, I am officially living in my new home in San Diego.  I’ll have to say the the most difficult part of this move was not having access to my cookware and kitchen gadgets.  I was condemned to eat fast food many days in a row.  Don’t get me wrong.  I enjoy a good Doritos Taco every now and then, but after a while, I just need a home cooked meal.

    On Friday evening, I was unpacking a sizable mound of boxes when I finally unearthed my pots, pans, knives and utensils.  Amidst tufts of crumpled newspaper, broken down boxes and bit and pieces of my life strewn about, I began cooking dinner.  First, I cleaned up two fat chicken breasts and seasoned them with kosher salt, garlic powder and freshly ground black pepper.  After turning the oven to 350, I set a small cast-iron pot filled with homemade vegetable stock, butter and gray salt over a medium flame.  I finely chopped an orphaned leek and several cloves of garlic, then prepped a beautiful collection of wild mushrooms.  King trumpet, shiitake and oyster mushrooms reduced to bite-sizes chunks. Continue reading for the rest of my story plus a recipe for super tasty granola bars.

    Surrounded by utter chaos, I stopped what I was doing to enjoy the moment.  Orchestrating three dishes at a time, I finally had complete control of one thing in my life, fully aware of how it would turn out in the end.  18 minutes for the chicken.  15 minutes for the quinoa.  10 minutes for the mushrooms.  Pure comfort.  My moment was over and it was time for some action.  Upon closing the oven door on two unsuspecting chicken breasts, I dropped a few tablespoons of butter into a hot Staub, listening for the satisfying sizzle of a well-heated pan.  Quinoa into the small pot of stock and leeks and garlic into the large Staub.  I just love the smell of onions, garlic and butter.  Shortly after, I tumbled the mushroom medley into the leek-garlic mixture, tossing until each earthy morsel was glistening with butter.  As the mushrooms cooked, hits of caramelization wafted up from the pot telling me it was time to stir.  Once satisfied with the color of the mushrooms, I add a few glugs of vermouth then clamped on the lid.  The rest was simply an assembly job.  After placing a hot chicken breast a top a mound of quinoa, I scattered the sauteed mushrooms around the plate.  Finished with freshly chopped parsley, this dinner was done.  And so delicious.

    Oats

    Coconut

    Almonds

    Currants

    Unfortunately, the only picture I have of this meal is on Instagram, so I decided not to dedicate an official post to the recipe.  Instead, I am sharing these Granola Bars with Coconut, Currants and Almonds.  I made a batch of these before my move and enjoyed one each morning.  Made with golden oats, shredded coconut, toasted almonds, dried currants, honey and spices, these granola bars are crunchy, sticky and completely addicting.  After tasting these yummy snacks, you’ll never buy them from the grocery store again.

    Granola

    Granola Bars with Coconut, Currants and Almonds

    Granola Bars with Coconut, Currants and Almonds

    by Brandon Matzek
    Adapted from here.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Servings 12 bars

    Ingredients
      

    • 1/4 cup canola oil, plus additional for the greasing pan
    • 2 cups rolled oats (not instant oatmeal)
    • 1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
    • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
    • 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
    • 1/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
    • 1 cup almonds, lightly toasted
    • 1/3 cup currants (or raisins)
    • 1/2 cup honey
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat and set aside. Lightly oil a 9 by 13 baking dish (rub oil all around), line with parchment paper, then lightly oil the parchment paper. Set aside.
    • In a medium bowl, combine canola oil and rolled oats, tossing until all oats are coated and glistening. Spread the oats out on the prepared baking sheet in an even layer. Toast in the oven for about 20 minutes, stirring at 10 minutes. You will know the oats are done when they darken a bit and become aromatic.
    • Return the toasted oats to the same bowl and add coconut, cinnamon, nutmeg, sea salt, almonds and currants, stirring to combine. Reduce oven to 300°F.
    • In a large pot, add honey and vanilla, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in oat mixture until everything is well coated in the honey.
    • Scrape the oat mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer. I found the best way to do this was with my hands and a piece of parchment paper. Bake for about 25 minutes in the oven or until just golden. If the bars bake for too long, they will become too crunchy, so start checking for doneness around 20 minutes.
    • Cut the granola into 12 bars. Store in an airtight container for about 1 week on the counter (if they last that long!).
    Tried this recipe?Tag @brandiego on Instagram so I can check it out!

     

    4
    Brandon and Federico
    Brandon

    I’m Brandon: food explorer, recipe curator, cocktail shaker, dessert lover. Kitchen Konfidence is how I document my time spent in my favorite space, the kitchen. Did you make a recipe? Tag @brandiego on Instagram so I can see the how it went!

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    Categories: Breakfast Tags: almonds, canola oil, cinnamon, coconut, currants, honey, nutmeg, rolled oats, sea salt, vanilla

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Erin Motz says

      June 3, 2012 at 10:09 am

      5 stars
      This looks outstanding – and so colorful! Such a great idea to start off the week, too!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        June 9, 2012 at 10:17 am

        Thanks Erin 🙂 Yes, they are perfect way get you going on a Monday morning.

        Reply
    2. Averie @ Averie Cooks says

      June 3, 2012 at 10:30 am

      Your story-telling is superb! I feel like I am right there cooking with you. Grateful however, that it was YOU, and not me, who just moved. I moved in 1 year ago almost to the date to current place, and before that, 1 year ago….and I’ve moved utterly too much! I hope you love your new pad! And congrats on it!

      And awesome looking granola bars!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        June 8, 2012 at 4:50 pm

        Thanks Averie 🙂 I used to move around every year. Then I stayed in my previous place for 3.5 years. I’m hoping to stay in my current place until I’m ready to buy!! Moving is so stressful :p

        Reply
    3. Krystal R says

      June 3, 2012 at 12:45 pm

      Congrats on the new home! Hope you unpack all your kitchen ware fast and cook up some tasty dishes! The first meal in your new home is always something to remember and relish! These granola bars sound like the perfect go-to snack for this busy mommy!! Yum!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        June 8, 2012 at 4:49 pm

        Thanks Krystal 🙂 I have been cooking up a storm recently in the new kitchen!

        Reply
    4. Ann P says

      June 3, 2012 at 5:06 pm

      I was wondering when you’d post these granola bars! I was drooling over them from your instagram photo on FB. These would be perfect for backpacking trips, although I’d have to be careful not to finish them too early, or my stomach would be grumbling on the way down! 🙂

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        June 8, 2012 at 4:47 pm

        Haha yes, it did take me a little time. I had prepared a number of posts to go out during my moving week, but I just couldn’t manage it.

        Reply
    5. Meghan says

      June 3, 2012 at 6:14 pm

      Loved this post. Everything about it. Moving is so overwhelming; it feels good to get back in your element!

      And can’t wait to try the granola bars! Keep it up 🙂

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        June 8, 2012 at 4:45 pm

        Thanks Meghan!!

        Reply
    5 from 1 vote

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    Brandon and Federico

    I'm Brandon: food explorer, recipe curator, cocktail shaker, dessert lover. Kitchen Konfidence is how I document my time spent in my favorite space, the kitchen. Read More…


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