Fruit and Nut Cereal Bars

No baking's needed with this quick stove-top prep for a bar packed with whole grain and fruit goodness. MORE+ LESS-

By Pillsbury Kitchens

June 12, 2009

Ingredients

cups Total® Cranberry Crunch cereal

cup diced dried mixed fruit or dried fruit and raisin mixture (from 7- or 8-oz bag)

1/2

cup roasted unsalted sunflower nuts

1/2

cup dry-roasted peanuts

3/4

cup packed brown sugar

1/2

cup corn syrup

1/4

cup creamy peanut butter

teaspoon vanilla

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1

Spray 9-inch square pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix cereal, dried fruit, sunflower nuts and peanuts.
2

In 2-quart saucepan, heat brown sugar, corn syrup and peanut butter to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.
3

Pour syrup over snack mix; toss to coat. Press firmly in pan. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. For bars, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows.

Replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats from nuts and seeds may help lower blood cholesterol. But fats are high in calories so keep portions small.
Get creative and replace the dried fruit and nuts with different flavors. Try dried cranberries with pistachios or dried apricots with almonds.