June's #SurpriseRecipeSwap- Chocolate Apricot Pistachio Krispie Granola Bars

Once again it is that time again.. Time to reveal who's blog we had and the recipe that we decided to make.    This swap was started by Jutta from Hungry Little Girl and if you would like information about this swap, click on the button at the bottom of the post.  I have had lots of fun, going through blogs and finding recipes that I would love to make... The only hard part is narrowing your choice down to one recipe.

This month I was given Christie from A Kitchen Hoor.  Her blog was new to me so was excited to go through it and check out many great recipes.  She has many great and delicious recipes and I had a very hard time picking only one.. but I did and I have a list of many others that I will be trying sometime in the near future.

The recipe that I picked was her Fancy Pistachio Apricot Rice Krispie Treat.  I was intrigued as I read the recipe and never would have thought of the fact that with rice krispie treats you have one bag of marshmallows and 6 cups of dried ingredients (the rice krispies)... DUH! of course that is what it is and you could easily change the dried ingredients.  I also love that they had oatmeal in them and that the oatmeal was toasted.  As I was thinking about these I thought why not toast the sesame seeds too.  So that is what I did. I place both together in a pan and baked them in a 400 degree oven until they were a light brown.  I checked them every few minutes and turned them so they wouldn't burn, they took about 12 -15 minutes for me to toast.

I also had an "A Ha Moment"  and thought I would add some Chia Seeds to mine , as I thought they would make them just a little bit healthier I  made two batches of these wonderful bars, the first I added 2 tbsp of chia seeds and the second I forgot..  I also wanted to add some chocolate.  I had bought some Dove Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Rounds  that I had bought at a chocolate party and again, the first batch I forgot to put them in and the second batch I had remembered. 

 The first batch I used outdated marshmallows that I had lying around... not a good idea as they really didn't want to melt properly.  I also stick my mallows and butter in a bowl and melt them in the microwave for a couple of minutes.  They poofed up like they were going to mix well but not so great... therefore that is why one batch is round instead of bars.

Chocolate Apricot Pistachio Krispie Granola Bars

adapted from Fancy Pistachio Apricot Rice Krispie Treats

1 cup dried apricots cut in small pieces

1/2 cup sunflower seeds (toasted)

1 cup pistachio cut in small pieces

2 cups old fashion rolled oats (toasted)

1.5 cups rice krispies

1/2 cup chocolate chopped (optional)

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp nutmeg

2 tbsp chia seed (optional)

16  ounces marshmallows

3 tbsp butter

Toast sunflower seeds and rolled oats in oven at 400 degrees.  Turn every few minutes so they won't burn.  It took about 12  - 15 minutes for mine to be a nice brown colour.

As these are roasting, cut up apricots, shell and break pistachio in small pieces (I used my mallet to do this), chop up the chocolate.  In large mixing bowl add all ingredients except marshmallows and butter.

In a second large bowl add marshmallows and butter.  Place in microwave and melt on high for approx 2 minutes ~ check at 30 seconds or 1 minute intervals. You can also melt this over the stove.  Mix.  Add dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.  

Place in a greased 9 X 13 pan spread evenly with back of a spoon or your hand that is slightly wet.  It is easier to spread the mixture if your hand or spoon is slightly wet.  

* my first batch didn't mix well as my marshmallows were old, so I rolled them into balls.  You could do this even if they mix well.

Second batch with chocolate

First batch that I rolled into balls

This recipe was awesome. They are a combination of a rice krispie treat and a granola bar.  I love all the flavours that and I like a chewy granola bar so this is right up my alley. I was hoping that they would have small bits of chocolate in them but all the chocolate melted.. but still tasted wonderfully.  I plan on making these again for my husband and I am sure he will like them.  What's not to like ~ they have everything apricots, pistachios, granola, spices.... chocolate! and dark chocolate so that it is healthy for you.

Thank you Christie for a wonderful recipe.

Make sure you head over to A Kitchen Hoor and check out all the wonderful recipes she has.  

If you would like more information about this Recipe Swap or would like to join, click on the button below

To check out all the recipes in the Surprise Recipe Swap head over here.

LINKS: The Weekend Re-Treat, Tasty Tuesdays, Random Recipe Roundup