These are the first granola bars I’ve ever made and I cannot believe how easy they were! I’ve been making my own granola for a while now and just modified the recipe for these chewy bars.
Granola bars are a go-to for me whether it’s breakfast on the way out the door or a quick snack. I tend to keep “emergency carbs” on me for those weird days when my body decides we need carbs ASAP and I’ve already had whatever extra food I’ve packed for the day. Does this happen to anyone else?
I’ve also been trying to cut down on how many packaged products I consume a) for less processed food and b) to reduce how much plastic/paper waste we create (I wrap these in a cloth napkin when I’m packing them for work).
Quick side note: no food is inherently bad and that includes processed food. I don’t ever foresee myself having anywhere close to a 100% whole food diet and honestly I’m very okay with that as a human and a registered dietitian. I do love finding ways to make things myself when I can but that does not make the traditional store-bought version the devil #endminirant
These granola bars are a perfect solution and I’m so excited to work them into my snack prepping routine. Oh also these are so darn cheap!
These bars are plain but they can be spruced up with dried fruit, nuts, and whatever you can think of to put in it!
The Stuff
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon of sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- splash of vanilla
- 2 cups old fashioned oats
- Recommended: 1/2 cup of whatever deliciousness you want to add
Deliciousness ideas (mixing and matching is encouraged):
- Chocolate chips: white, dark, or butterscotch
- Shredded coconut
- Dried fruit: cranberries, raisins, cherries, dates, apples
- Nuts: almonds (chopped or slivered), peanuts, walnuts, cashews
The Steps
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees
- Beat or whisk the oil, maple syrup, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla
- Add the oats and mix thoroughly. Add in any extras and mix
- Press mixture into a silicone granola bar tray placed on a baking sheet (for 8 bars) or a lightly greased, 8×8 baking pan
- Bake for around 30 minutes or until the oats are lightly golden brown
- Place the pan on a cooking wrack and let the bars cool completely
- Once cooled, gently pop the bars out of the silicone pan or use a knife to cut then into bars or squares if using an 8×8 pan
- Refrigerate bars in an airtight container for up to a week or freeze
Did you make it? I’d love to see how it turned out! Tag @bitebetanutrition on instagram.
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