HOMEMADE CHEWY GRANOLA BARS
These no-bake Homemade Granola Bars are so easy to make and BONUS! You’ll know exactly what is in them. No weird additives or chemicals. You can also tailor them to your family’s favourite flavours just by switching out a few ingredients. They are perfect for school lunches, traveling or just an afternoon snack. You do need to use old fashioned rolled oats in this recipe. I personally like to use @Rogersfoods one that has ancient grains like oats, rye, barley, spelt and khorasan flakes, oat bran, millet, flaxseed, quinoa flakes, Etc. blend to sneak in the extra fibre.
Homemade granola bars can be kept for up to a week at room temperature, in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Makes 16 granola bars
INGREDIENTS
6 tbsp butter or coconut oil
6 tbsp brown sugar , packed
2/3 cup honey
3 cups old fashioned rolled oats (NOT instant, steel cut or quick oats)
2 cups Rice Krispies cereal
1/4 cup flax seeds
1/4 tsp Himalayan or kosher salt
Choose a flavor below:
VARIATIONS:
Chocolate Peanut Butter:
1/2 cup chopped peanuts
6 tbsp peanut butter (replacing the butter/coconut oil)0
1/2 chocolate chips
Chocolate Coconut:
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup chocolate chips
Oatmeal Raisin Granola Bars:
1 cup raisins
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
Mocha Granola Bars:
1 tbsp espresso powder (or instant coffee ground to a powder)
1/2 chocolate chips
Chocolate Cranberry
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup cranberries
DIRECTIONS
Spray an 8x8 inch pan with cooking oil or baking spray and line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper. This makes removing them from the pan a breeze.
Add butter (or coconut oil), brown sugar and honey to a medium pot over medium heat and stirring constantly, cook for exactly for 3 minutes once everything has melted. Any longer will make your bars hard and shorter will cause them to fall apart.
Add the oats, Rice Krispies, cranberries and salt to a large bowl. Pour the warmed syrup mixture over it and stir to combine well. Allow to cool for 15-20 minutes if you don’t want the chocolate chips to melt. If you don’t care, add them now and follow the last step.
Gently fold in the chocolate chips and then pour the entire mixture into the prepared pan. Slightly packed it down and cool them in the fridge for 3-4 hours until they are set.
Drizzle tops with melted chocolate chips if desired.
