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Granola Bar Recipe

This year for Christmas gifts I made quite a bit of granola and granola bars.    The granola bars in particular got a very positive response, so I am recording the recipe here – where I will be able to find it next time I want to make some.

Now, granola bars are basically granola plus a binder.  And granola is whatever you want it to be.  I think oats are a must have, but anything else is personal.  This batch had half quick oats, because someone bought the wrong kind at the grocery – please only use “old fashioned” if you are making granola!  The quick oats were fine in these bars (***remember, mixed with regular, old fashioned oats, not all on their own***), but I wouldn’t choose to make the bars this way.  I was just trying to use up some otherwise useless oats – no one likes instant oatmeal – yuck.  (I have tried both the expensive brands of rolled oats like arrowhead mills and just the store brands, and in granola it really doesn’t make much difference.  However in oatmeal, the pricey brands are worth it, so I save my fancy oats for oatmeal, and buy the cheap kind of old fashioned oats when I make granola.  My daughter loves oatmeal, which she called ‘oakmeal’ when she was younger, and I remember once making instant brown sugar oatmeal, and her returning the bowl, saying that “These oaks aren’t very good.”  She is a bit of an oatmeal snob.)   I also used whole flax seed, because I had some, but I usually include sesame seeds, and I didn’t this time because I have run out.  I’d like to try adding dried apricot and dried apple, but I never have any on hand, so haven’t made those versions yet.

So I think any granola recipe would work, just add the binder – with one note – don’t add sugar or oil when you make the granola.  There is plenty of sweet and fat in the binder.  Although, to keep on with yet more exceptions, if you are using dried cranberries, you might want to add a little (maybe half or 1/3 of the amount called for) extra sugar, because they are rather tart.  Unless you are using cherry flavored dried cranberries, which are very sweet.  But I digress (can you tell that I tried a lot of different versions of granola and granola bars over the holiday season?). . .

Granola Bars

First start the granola – it will take a while to get really toasty.  Toast the oats on their own for about 15 minutes, then add the nuts and coconut, and whatever seeds you have if you want, and toast for another 15 minutes or so.  Set the timer to remind you to stir/check the mixture every 5 minutes.  It tastes best if you get it really golden brown and toasty, but the coconut and nuts can burn if you forget and leave it for even a few minutes.  Add the fruit after you finish toasting the oat mixture.

2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1 1/2 cup chopped nuts

1/2 c shredded coconut (I used angel flake because that was what I had on hand)

up to 1 cup seeds (sesame, flax, sunflower – any that strike your fancy, or all)

1 cup dried fruit

When the toasting is complete, put all into a large heatproof bowl.  Metal would be the safest.

In a medium sauce pan, stir together

1/2 c honey

1/2 c brown sugar

1/2 stick butter

1/2 t salt

1 tsp vanilla

Bring to a boil over low-medium heat, and allow to boil gently for 2 or 3 minutes.  If it doesn’t boil long enough, the bars will still be delicious, but may fall apart a bit.

Take the honey mix off the heat and let it cool a little, 5 minutes or so.  PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THIS STUFF – IT IS A 3RD DEGREE BURN WAITING TO HAPPEN – NO KIDS SHOULD BE UNDERFOOT WHEN YOU ARE COOKING THIS OR POURING THE SYRUP INTO THE BOWL.  OK, I’m serious, just be careful.

Pour the syrup onto the granola and turn with a wooden spoon until it is well covered.  Pour mixture into an 8″ square pan, lined with plastic wrap.  Put a sheet of wrap over the top, then press down firmly until the stuff is flat and packed into the pan.

Cool in the fridge, then take from the pan and slice with a big strong knife (see the pic above).  It is worth the trouble to wrap each bar with plastic wrap, so you can grab one and slip it in your pocket.  Much better than fast food when you are caught away from home and longing for a snack.