Sports Bars with Dried Fruit and Peanut Butter

These are a great pre or post workout snack; and delicious too!  They are also great because they do not require a lot of time to make; I actually whipped them up just before class and let them cool while I was gone.

The original recipe called for walnuts and dried cherries but I used almonds and cranberries instead because that's what I had in my pantry (my adapted version of the recipe is below).


Sports Bars with Dried Fruit and Peanut Butter
Source: adapted from Bon Appetit magazine, January 2002
Yields about 18 bars

Ingredients
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
3 cups puffed whole grain cereal (I used Kashi 7 Whole Grain Puffs)
1/2 cup almonds, chopped
1/4 cup chopped pitted dates
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup raisins
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup light corn syrup

Directions 
Preheat oven to 350°F.  Spray 9-inch square metal baking pan with nonstick spray.  Mix cereal, almonds, dates, cranberries, and raisins in medium bowl.  Combine peanut butter, honey, and corn syrup in heavy small saucepan.  Bring to boil, whisking constantly until mixture bubbles vigorously and thickens slightly, about 1 minute.  Pour peanut butter mixture over cereal mixture in bowl; stir to blend.  Transfer mixture to prepared pan; press to compact.  Bake until just golden around edges, about 10 minutes.  Cool completely.  Cut into 2 1/2 x 1 1/2-inch bars. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Store in single layer between sheets of foil in airtight container at room temperature.)