Granola bars for energy on safari

No Bake Cranberry Granola Bars

I love it when I can make something delicious without having to bake it.  These no bake  Cranberry Granola Bars will give you energy for hours and are the perfect breakfast for those on the run, or afternoon pick-me-up snack  when your energy is low.  What better snack to take with you when you are camping or on safari.  You can make them soft and chewy or hard and crunchy, either way they taste so good you will be wanting more.

No bake Cranberry granola bars

We recently went for a midweek break to the beautiful Kirkman’s Kamp in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve.  The restored original homestead of Harry Kirkman with its spectacular views over the Sabi River and bushveld, and the gracious service from everyone there, made for  the best bush experience I have ever had.   The highlight of our trip  was the fabulous experience of seeing these beautiful Leopard  in their natural surroundings. Although I have been many times to the bush I have rarely seen leopard – this was leopard country for sure.

Leopard at Kirkmans Kamp

Leopard for Shades of Cinnamon
I certainly did not need to take any snacks with me, as we were fed like kings at this amazing Lodge, but the beautiful winter colours of the bushveld reminded me of these energy bars, which would be a great snack to take to any outdoor destination you may be heading for.  If you are camping these will last for weeks, although they do get softer and chewer as time goes on, but I think they are even more delicious like that.

Yes I know it is easier to buy granola bars, but do you know what is in them, have you checked what preservatives are added?  These are super easy and take no time at all to make.  I have added cranberries, but you could add raisins, or chocolate chips and crispy rice cereal for the children.

Kirkmans Camp Leopard

Leopard on safari

This whole experience reminded me so much of the beautiful book  “Out of Africa”  the memoir of Danish author Karen Blixen. who made her home in Kenya.  It is a lyrical meditation of her life on a coffee plantation, and a tribute to the people who touched her life there.   It provides a vivid interpretation of African colonial life in the last decades of the British Empire.  The book has also been published under her pen name, Isak Dinesen.  If you have never read it, you should try and get your hands on a copy or watch the 1985 movie with Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Beautiful scenes of Africa and a love story as well. One of my favourite classic movies of all time.

Flatlay with no bake cranberry granola bars

I had a farm in Africa at the foot of the Ngong Hills. The Equator runs across these highlands, a hundred miles to the north, and the farm lay at an altitude of over six thousand feet. In the day-time you felt that you had got high up; near to the sun, but the early mornings and evenings were limpid and restful, and the nights were cold.” – Karen Blixen.

5 from 3 votes
No bake Cranberry granola bars
Healthy Cranberry Granola Bars
Prep Time
15 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 

The beauty of these granola bars, is that there is no need to bake them, they are quick and easy and healthy as well

Course: Snack
Servings: 16 small bars
Author: Shades of Cinnamon
Ingredients
  • 3 cups toasted rolled oats (or if you have kids try 2 cups oats and 1 cup crispy rice cereal)
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 3 tsp sesame seeds (optional)
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed tightly (Muscovada or soft brown)
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence
  • 1/3 cup cranberries (alternatively you can use chocolate chips or raisins)
Instructions
  1. Measure out toasted rolled oats and place in a bowl.  If you only have raw oats, bake them in the oven at medium low heat until toasted.

  2. Add cinnamon and cranberries and combine

  3. In a saucepan melt the butter, sugar and honey and allow to boil.  Once it has boiled turn down the heat and cook for at least 2 minutes.  This needs to reach a caramel stage, the longer you cook it the crispier the granola will be.  At 2 minutes it should turn out slightly chewy when added to the oat mixture.

  4. Take off the heat and add the vanilla

  5. Turn out into the bowl of oats and mix quickly in order to combine all the ingredients

  6. Pack this down tightly with your hand, into a shallow pan which has been slightly greased.  Pack it in to the depth you like your bars to be.  You may only use a portion of the pan.  

  7. Cool slightly before cutting into bars.  Do not leave it for more than a few minutes otherwise it will be very hard to cut.

  8. Seal in an airtight container or pack individually with parchment paper 

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8 Comments

  • Reply Lizanne June 13, 2017 at 1:47 PM

    What a wonderful experience and your pictures are lovely too

  • Reply Sonette June 13, 2017 at 1:59 PM

    Yummy I have all these ingredients so I am going to make them now.

  • Reply Marie June 13, 2017 at 5:29 PM

    Boring day at the office until I read this! That leopard looking over its shoulder is magnificent. You also took me back to that wonderful, romantic and Karen Blixen’s book. Thank you!
    PS definitely going to try these granola bars too
    x

    • Reply Shades of Cinnamon June 14, 2017 at 6:41 AM

      Hey Marie I was thinking of buying the book again, its time for a nostalgic re-read. Hope you guys are all well. Lots of love xxx

  • Reply Marie June 13, 2017 at 5:30 PM

    got too carried away – meant to type “that wonderful, romantic movie and Karen Blixen’s book”

  • Reply ratna June 15, 2017 at 6:19 AM

    This is amazing. The leopard is magnificent! I’m planning to try these granola bars soon. Thanks Ev for showcasing your beautiful country. ‘Out of Africa ‘ is one of my favourite movie.

    • Reply Shades of Cinnamon June 15, 2017 at 7:58 AM

      What a beautiful old classic movie, along with “The English Patient” – timeless xxx

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