Soft, chewy bars blending matcha, cranberries, and oats for an energizing and wholesome treat.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1 cup whole wheat flour
03 - 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
04 - 2 tablespoons culinary grade matcha powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
06 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
07 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted (or coconut oil for dairy-free)
08 - 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
09 - 1 large egg
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Filling & Add-ins
11 - 1 cup dried cranberries, sweetened or unsweetened
12 - 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
13 - Zest of 1 orange (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a large bowl, mix together oats, whole wheat flour, brown sugar, matcha powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly distributed.
03 - Whisk melted butter, honey or maple syrup, egg, and vanilla extract in a separate bowl until fully blended.
04 - Add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture and stir gently until just combined, resulting in a slightly crumbly but cohesive mixture.
05 - Fold in dried cranberries, nuts, and orange zest if using, distributing them evenly throughout the batter.
06 - Reserve 3/4 cup of the mixture to use as the crumble topping. Press the remaining batter firmly and evenly into the prepared pan.
07 - Sprinkle the reserved crumble mixture evenly over the pressed base, gently pressing to adhere.
08 - Bake for 28 to 32 minutes until edges turn golden and the top is set.
09 - Allow bars to cool completely in the pan, then lift out using the parchment overhang and slice into 12 bars.
