Last night, I needed a snack to take to a gathering, so I dusted off a recipe I haven’t made for a long time. And oh. My. Goodness. I had forgotten just how good homemade granola bars can be. These granola bars always get rave reviews and the request for the recipe. Over the years, we’ve given them as teacher gifts and shared them with neighbors at Christmas.
So, if you’re looking for a great snack without all the preservatives, additives, high-fructose corn syrup and other junk found in processed granola bars, give these a try.
Homemade Granola Bar Recipe
2 cups quick oats
3/4 cup wheat germ (optional & omit if desiring to be gluten free, just up the oats a tad)
3/4 cup sunflower or pumpkin seeds
1 cup crushed peanuts (food processor works best though a plastic bag and a rolling pin also work)
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
4 Tbsp butter
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix oats, wheat germ, seeds and peanuts in a cake pan or baking dish with sides. Toast in the oven approximately 10-12 minutes, stirring 3 to 4 times.
Simmer sugar, honey, butter, vanilla and salt in a saucepan over low to medium heat, stirring frequently. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Stir in toasted mixture. Mix well and place in a lightly greased 11 x 13 pan. Press hard with a wooden spoon or spatula. Let cool for a few hours or place in the fridge for a quicker set up (because, let’s face it, sometimes we need granola bars NOW!). Cut into bars or squares. Store in an airtight container. Enjoy!
Potential add-ins: dried fruits, nuts, coconut or chocolate chips. If using chocolate chips, don’t add them to the warm mixture…or you create chocolate granola bars instead of chocolate chip granola bars. Instead, press them into the bars once they are in the pan. It’s best to let the bars cool slightly and even chill the chips, so they don’t become a melted, gooey mess when trying to press them into the bars.
Suggested toppings: peanut butter, Nutella
I came across this recipe years ago, so thanks for the inspiration, Joyful Abode!
