After a much needed and relaxing break, we are now back to school, projects, homework, and of course school lunches. A favourite school lunch staple of mine are granola bars.
Quick to make and devoid of any preservatives, corn syrup, HFCS, anything unpronounceable. I can never make enough of these bars. Full of nuts and dried fruits along with that woodsy oaty flavour; these are the best granola bars we've ever eaten. No contest!
Though these bars contain all good stuff, they are quite calorie-dense; in a good way.
Quick to make and devoid of any preservatives, corn syrup, HFCS, anything unpronounceable. I can never make enough of these bars. Full of nuts and dried fruits along with that woodsy oaty flavour; these are the best granola bars we've ever eaten. No contest!
Though these bars contain all good stuff, they are quite calorie-dense; in a good way.
My version is based on a recipe from Good Housekeeping. Over the years I've made several variations and continue to make more variations mostly based on current favourites. It is a work in progress.
Here is latest version.
Ingredients
2 cups old fashioned oats (not quick cooking oats)
½ cup all purpose flour
½ cup whole wheat flour
½ cup (or more) brown sugar, packed
½ cup lightly toasted wheat germ (optional, see notes below)
1/4 cup flax seed meal (optional)
½ cup vegetable oil
½ cup honey
a pinch of salt
1 tsp (or more) ground cinnamon
2 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup raisins, sweetened dried cranberries, dried blueberries
½ chopped nuts
1 egg, lightly beaten
Method
Preheat oven to 350F.
Line a 13x9 baking pan with foil leaving an overhang on all sides.
Spritz the foil with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, mix all the dry ingredients.
Add the oil, honey and egg.
Mix well.
Using wet hands pat the mixture in the pan.
Bake for about 30-35 minutes, till the edges start browning slightly around the edges. Don't over bake as the granola bars will very quickly go from nice and woodsy to cardboardy.
When cool, use the overhanging foil to lift the entire batch onto a cutting board.
Cut into bars.
Enjoy!
Notes
You could use only whole wheat flour. But after much experimentation, I've settled on this proportion of whole wheat flour and all purpose flour.
If the wheat germ is omitted, replace with an equal amount of oats.
If using flax seed meal, refrigerate the granola bars as the flax seed may start smelling off if left for too long at room temperature.
The egg can be omitted but the bars don't hold their shape as well.
Next time I make these bars, I want to try Nupur's idea of substituting the egg with flax seeds.
Ingredients
2 cups old fashioned oats (not quick cooking oats)
½ cup all purpose flour
½ cup whole wheat flour
½ cup (or more) brown sugar, packed
½ cup lightly toasted wheat germ (optional, see notes below)
1/4 cup flax seed meal (optional)
½ cup vegetable oil
½ cup honey
a pinch of salt
1 tsp (or more) ground cinnamon
2 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup raisins, sweetened dried cranberries, dried blueberries
½ chopped nuts
1 egg, lightly beaten
Method
Preheat oven to 350F.
Line a 13x9 baking pan with foil leaving an overhang on all sides.
Spritz the foil with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, mix all the dry ingredients.
Add the oil, honey and egg.
Mix well.
Using wet hands pat the mixture in the pan.
Bake for about 30-35 minutes, till the edges start browning slightly around the edges. Don't over bake as the granola bars will very quickly go from nice and woodsy to cardboardy.
When cool, use the overhanging foil to lift the entire batch onto a cutting board.
Cut into bars.
Enjoy!
Notes
You could use only whole wheat flour. But after much experimentation, I've settled on this proportion of whole wheat flour and all purpose flour.
If the wheat germ is omitted, replace with an equal amount of oats.
If using flax seed meal, refrigerate the granola bars as the flax seed may start smelling off if left for too long at room temperature.
The egg can be omitted but the bars don't hold their shape as well.
Next time I make these bars, I want to try Nupur's idea of substituting the egg with flax seeds.
11 comments:
Those bars make me wish I was going to school too, that way I would be running around the playground to deplete the calories. :-) I used to make oat bars like these long time ago to keep at my desk, will try your version sometime.
wow!!This is very healthy and high in protien ....Really you have raised the bar high
these bars are perfect for breakfast looks yummyyyyyy
I bit these can hold one up between meals and beyond.
Wow, I came to oyur blog thro sreelus. Love this recipe. I dont have wheat germ and flax seeds, but I making them now for sure.
Loved the outcome, thanks for sharing this recipe
Yup! those looks good:) nothing compares to the home-made bars, right?! I too make mine with dates and nuts, and they are perfect!
ET: I know what you mean. That is why I pack a larger bar in the kids' lunch bag and a smaller one for me!
Deepa: Thanks!
Sagari: breakfast, a little something after breakfast and before lunch, you get the drift :)
Cynthia: yep, just right to tide you over.
Shankari: I'm so glad you liked them.
Mansi: Nothing comes anywhere close to home-made bars. Haven't added dates yet; nest time I'll that dates :)
look this is the "diet" i told you about you should really enter the site :) bye enter the site
these are perfect for travel. we're going on a trip shortly and are totally making these.
I have been through your blog for a bit now, and the granola bar was one recipe I tried recently, followed your recipe word-for-word and the result was awesome! Thank you for sharing this!
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