We love granola around our house. One of my favorite ways to eat it is mixed into yogurt. I'll have that for a snack any day of the week. I figured I'd mess around with some of the ingredients for granola and see what I could come up with in bar form. I came up with some pretty good stuff. This recipe is easy to modify when it comes to the mix-ins. Just use whatever suits your fancy. These were VERY good. So good in fact, that I have all the stuff to make another batch. This time double!
Granola Bars
1 2/3 cups quick oats
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup oats, pulsed till finely ground in a food processor
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup Craisins
1/2 cup nuts (I used shelled sunflower seeds)
1/4 cup shredded sweetened coconut
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/3 cup peanut butter (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 tablespoons melted butter
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 tablespoon water
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8″ x 8″ x 2″ pan in one direction with parchment paper, allowing it to go up and hang over the opposite sides. Spray pan and parchment paper with cooking spray.
Stir together all the dry ingredients, including the fruit, nuts, coconut and wheat germ.
In a separate bowl, melt the butter with the peanut butter (if using) then whisk in the vanilla, honey, corn syrup and water.
Pour wet ingredients over the dry until all is coated.
Spread in the prepared pan, pressing them in firmly.
Bake the bars for 40 - 45 minutes, until they’re brown around the edges.
They’ll still seem a little soft you press into the center but they’ll set completely once cooled.
Cool in the pan on a cooling rack for 30 minutes. Score around the edges of the pan to loosen. Then lift the parchment paper to remove the bars, and place them in their paper on the rack to cool the rest of the way.
Once cool place uncut bars on a cutting board and cut into squares using a serrated knife.
Wrap individually and store in the fridge or freezer. For a extra fun treat, dip one end in some chocolate!
Here's what you need. And vanilla...
not shown but I did use it!
Prep your pan.
Pulse 1/3 cup of oats in a food
processor or blender.
Mix all the dry ingredients, along
with fruits, nuts, etc., in a large bowl.
Melt the butter and peanut butter (if using)
in a medium bowl. Then add the vanilla,
honey, water and corn syrup.
Combine the wet and dry and mix well.
Place in the prepared pan, pressing down well.
Bake!
Allow to cool for 30 minutes then
leave out to cool the rest of the way.
Cut into bars.
Wrap in plastic wrap and store in the fridge.
