Starch Free Granola Bars

Commercial Granola Bars are full of... Granola. Which is made of oats. Which is full of starch (and often gluten too).

Bummer.

But my kids kept asking, and I persevered, and so I present to you....

Starch Free Granola Bars!!! Which, granted, aren't granola bars because they don't have any granola, but I'm a baker and not a namer-of-things.

Before you start, be sure to read the recipe through carefully, and do ALL the prep work ahead of time.




Starch Free....Bars

Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/3 cup water
1/4 tsp cream of tartar

12-16 ounces of mixed nuts
24 ounces of dried fruit (I used apricots and cranberries)

1/2 cup chocolate chips, optional

butter or oil

Method
Coarsely chop the nuts and fruits, place into a large bowl. Measure out the chocolate chips, set aside.

Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper.

Butter a cutting board, or a the backside of a smaller sheet pan. Set aside.

Get a large bowl scraper or spoon, set aside with the parchment-lined pan.

Place the first 5 ingredients into a 3 qt pot. Use a candy thermometer to monitor the temperature, and cook to 300°. Watch carefully and do not go above 300° (soft crack stage). Remove the thermometer.

Working very, very quickly, pour the fruit and nuts into the sugar, stir well, and pour onto the parchment-lined pan. Press flat with the buttered cutting board.

If desired, sprinkle chocolate chips over the bars, and press again with the board (no need to butter it again).

Let cool about 5 minutes, no longer, and cut into bars with a pizza cutter or a sharp knife. Let cool completely, and store in an airtight container.