Line an 8 x 8 baking dish with parchment paper. If you do not have parchment paper, you may be successful lining it with foil and lightly oiling it (I have only used parchment and it works great).
In a rimmed sheet pan, place 2 1/2 cups organic oats and 1/2 cup chopped organic nuts of your choice.
Heat oven to 350°F and toast oats and nuts for about 8 minutes. If you chose to add seeds (read below for the additional 3/4 cup of your choice), I like to add them to the sheet pan and toast along with the oats and nuts. I use hemp seeds often.
While that is toasting in the oven, in a small pan heat:
1/4 c. organic butter
1/4 c. organic honey
1/3 c. organic brown sugar
Heat on low until sugar is dissolved, remove from heat and add:
1/2 to 1 tsp. homemade vanilla. I like to use 1 tsp. Stir.
Pour toasted oat/nut/seed mix into a mixing bowl, and add:
3/4 cup of your choice of dried fruits, seeds, coconut etc. If adding chocolate bits, do not add yet.
Pour the heated honey mixture over the oat and fruit/nut mixture.
Mix well until everything is coated. This will prevent anything crumbling off when you cut it into bars.
*wait for mixture to cool before adding any chocolate bits to this.
Store in the refrigerator or freezer.
Note: I do not add any salt to this. I use salted organic butter and the taste is great!
Healthy Homemade Granola Bars © March 2019 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart
I have never tried to make granola bars, but I might try later in the week.
ReplyDeleteWe like granola bars, have to give this a try. I'm wondering if you could use it for cereal also, maybe that would have to be baked. Have a glorious day !
ReplyDeleteduh! I went back and re read the directions again, it is baked. So then maybe one could smash it up and make it a cereal too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a tasty snack. I am going into the kitchen to see if I have all the ingredients.
ReplyDeleteCarol, they are so easy to make and taste great.
ReplyDeleteFaith the oats and nuts are toasted in the oven, then you melt the butter, brown sugar and honey in a pan and pour over the toasted mixture that's been mixed with the fruits/nuts seeds.
ReplyDeletemamasmercantile, they are very good and they've been a hit for the family to take to work and school.
ReplyDeleteThose sound delicious! I'm always looking for healthy snacks. Thank you. I'll be trying them out!
ReplyDeleteYay for homemade granola bars! Our daughter has been making our bars since early this last winter. For ours, I provide her with all the ingredients and she makes them for us. I can't believe how good they are. I've always been turned off by (even organic) store bought granola bars because they either taste like recycled cardboard or have no taste at all. But now we use her homemade ones for a nutritious snack if needed, a substitute for some other dessert, to take on hikes, etc. Our last two batches I've included dried sour cherries in with the fruit. Oh, are those good!
ReplyDeleteThey look fantastic! I know I would love them and probably eat more than I should!, especially if chocolate was involved. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sam I Am
ReplyDeleteMama Pea, sour cherries? Yum.
ReplyDeleteDebby, Hubby loves them and so do the kids.
ReplyDelete