Healthy chewies
MAKES 16 PREP AND COOK TIME 40 MINUTES (+ STANDING)
2 cups (180g) rolled oats
1 cup (100g) desiccated coconut
½ cup (80g) wholemeal plain flour
¼ cup (50g) pepitas (pumpkin seed kernels)
¼ cup (30g) natural flaked almonds, optional (see Julie's tips)
¼ cup (40g) sultanas
½ cup (70g) dried cranberries
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
⅓ cup (80ml) extra virgin olive oil
¾ cup (180ml) golden syrup
½ teaspoon vanilla extract icing sugar, for dusting, optional
1 Preheat oven to 170°C (150°C fan-forced). Grease a 20cm x 30cm slice pan; line base with baking paper, extending paper 5cm over long sides of pan.
2 Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. 3 Place oil and syrup in a small saucepan; bring to the boil. Remove from heat; stir in extract.
4 Add oil mixture to dry mixture; stir thoroughly to combine. The mixture will be quite firm; use clean hands to combine well, if necessary. Press mixture firmly into pan with a spatula or damp hands to level.
5 Bake slice for 25 minutes or until golden. Turn off oven; leave slice in oven for a further 5 minutes to dry out slightly. Remove from oven; stand slice in pan for 15 minutes.
6 Use the baking paper to help lift the slice onto a wire rack. Cool completely. Dust lightly with sifted icing sugar, if you like. Remove paper, then cut slice into 16 fingers. Suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave.