Granola bars are a great snack for class, before the gym, or on a hike. These homemade bars taste delicious and travel well for Block Breaks or camping trips.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Total time: 25 minutes
Yields: 16 bars
Ingredients:
• 2 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 cup nuts, roughly chopped
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter (coconut oil can be substituted for dairy-free option)
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3/4 cups total extra ingredients (1/4 cup each of different ingredients such as dried fruits, chocolate chips, etc.)
Instructions:
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Place the oats and nuts on a cookie sheet or baking tray. Bake until lightly toasted, about 10 minutes. Remove and place in large bowl.
• Add honey, butter/coconut oil, and brown sugar to a small sauce pan and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently. A microwave will also work.
• When the mixture has dissolved into a liquid form, remove from heat and add in vanilla and salt.
• Pour the mixture over the oats and nuts in the large bowl. Stir to combine, making sure all of the oats are coated.
• At this point, add in any extra ingredients you want. (Note: let the mixture cool for about 10 minutes before adding in any chocolate, or it will melt.)
• Evenly distribute the mixture into a 9-inch square baking dish, lined with parchment paper or cooking spray. Chill the granola in the fridge for 2 to 2.5 hours.
• Remove the chilled granola from the pan and cut into bars or squares, whatever shape works best for you.
The great part about these granola bars is you can begin with the base recipe and customize it with any extra ingredients you want to create a variety of different flavors. The possibilities are endless!