Cranberry-Pumpkin Seed Energy Bars

Ingredients

• 1 cup pecans
• crushed
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1/4 cup flaxseeds
• 2/3 cup muscovado or dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup honey
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups puffed rice cereal
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Spread the pecans, oats, pumpkin seeds and flaxseeds on the sheet and bake until fragrant, 8 minutes.
3. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl.
4. In a saucepan, bring the sugar, honey, butter and salt to a boil over moderate heat.
5. Simmer until the sugar is dissolved and a light brown caramel forms, 5 minutes.
6. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
7. Drizzle the caramel all over the nut-and-oat mixture.
8. Stir in the puffed rice and cranberries until evenly coated.
9. Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper, extending the paper over the side.
10. Scrape the cereal mixture into the dish in an even layer.
11. Cover the mixture with a second sheet of parchment and press down to compress it.
12. Let stand until firm, about 2 hours.
13. Discard the top piece of parchment.
14. Using the overhanging paper, lift out the cereal square and transfer it to a work surface.
15. Cut into 12 bars and serve.