Raw Chewy Granola Bars!

Have you ever wanted a raw, vegan, gluten free granola bar that is chewy and tastes like heaven? Well now you found it! 

This recipe is one of my all time favourites, and although I no longer consume any type of grains (including ones that are gluten free - for my own personal reasons), that is no reason to keep this lovely recipe away in the dark. I rather share it with all of you :)

Ingredients:

Pumpkin seeds (1/2 cup soaked overnight)

Sunflower seeds (1/2 cup soaked overnight)

Hemp Seeds (1/4 cup)

3-4 very ripe bananas

Organic Raisins (1 cup)

Organic dried (unsweetened) cranberries (1 cup)

*Optional - if you can find them, dried unsweetened cherries (1/2-1 cup)

NON-toasted Buckwheat (1 1/2 cups, soaked and sprouted for 2 days - look up how to sprout buckwheat on google - type in "how to sprout buckwheat")

Chia Seeds (1/4 cup, ground finely)

Spirulina (2-3 tbsp)

Method:

Mash the bananas, mix in the chia seeds and hemp seeds, and mix together. Once this is incorporated add the sprouted buckwheat, pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Mix together. Then add raisins, cranberries and cherries (optional) or any other kind of dried fruit you can think of - goji berries are good here too! 

Spread this mixture onto dehydrator sheets into a large square. Score lightly to make smaller squares as shown in the picture (this makes it easier when they are dried to break them apart). Dehydrate the square for 10-15 hours at 115ºF (a temperature that will keep your foods raw). At around 10 hours, flip the squares to allow the bottom to dry on the mesh sheet and let dehydrate for another 2-5 hours. 

*Note: If you do not have a dehydrator you can use a cookie sheet and oven on the lowest temperature (they will not take as much time, mind you). This means that they will not be totally raw, but they will still taste amazing!

Enjoy!