If you’re a granola bar fan, like me, you’ve probably wanted to try making your own – something custom-made to your taste and a healthier choice than the sugar-laden commercial bars at the market.
No doubt you have figured out by now that most of the store-bought granola bars are not much better than candy or cookies, when it comes down to nutrition and counting calories. And let’s not even get into the issues of over-packaging, the mysterious ingredients with long scary scientific names, and the cost of buying those little snacks…
In short, I decided to start making my own.
So I looked up about five or six different recipes for granola bars in my extensive collection of cookbooks (it’s a weakness, what can I say) and did a “mix and match” of ingredients to come up with the following recipe.
Next time I will probably leave out the brown sugar, as they’re just a tiny bit on the sweet side for my taste. And maybe chopped almonds instead of sliced, for more of an almond-flavour punch. And maybe some raisins — you can’t go wrong with raisins in granola bars, but I just didn’t happen to have any this time.
Anyway, here’s the recipe I came up with — enjoy!
Chewy Granola Bars
Pre-heat oven to 325°F. Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper, or with waxed paper sprayed with oil.
Combine and set aside:
1 cup oats
1/2 cup chopped dried cranberries
1/2 cup sliced blanched almonds
1/4 cup finely chopped almonds
1/4 cup sunflower seeds, hulled, not salted
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
In a heavy saucepan over low heat (or in a large glass bowl in the microwave), combine:
1/4 cup almond butter (you could also use peanut butter)
1/4 cup liquid honey
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 Tbsp butter
Bring just to the boiling point, stirring to dissolve the sugar. This will only take a minute or two. Set it aside.
Whisk 1 egg white into the warm “granola glue” liquid.
Stir in the dry ingredients.
Press the mixture firmly into the prepared pan.
Bake at 325 for 20-25 minutes.
Allow to cool completely in the pan before cutting into pieces of whatever size you like. I cut mine into 1-inch x 4-inch bars, similar to the size and shape of the granola bars you might buy at the grocery store.
Hi Domestik Goddess! I have an 10 week old baby minpin on my knee as I write (his mum is a chihuahua and his dad is a minpin, but this baby looks like his dad we own both parents)! Except he’s chocolate brown with caramel legs and muzzle with olive green eyes! Gorgeous and the boss of our Rottie! Lol! He’s the one with the 1cm wide paws I’ve mentioned in a reply to “Terry” asking about chihuahua boots. I needed to make bootees for this little one fast as he’s had all his jabs and wants to go out to play when we take our older dogs out. We had a greyhound too which we rescued but we had to rehome her as our Rottie didnt take to her and we couldnt leave them alone. So sadly she was rehomed but went to a lovely retired couple who already owned a lurcher x saluki so she’s got another hound to “talk to” and snuggle with. All our Dogs are rescues except this baby minpin but he was the result of an accidental “mating” and had to be hand reared when his mum became ill. So I’, a dab hand at knitting and sewing coats for dogs – I’ve made coats for our dogs and for greyhounds in rescue centres. I have a lovely pattern for a coat with a snood like hood for greyhounds. It is particularly good for them as their fur is so thin they feel every bit of cold and wind dont they. Hubby is home for christmas on wednesday (he works away) so I’ll get him to show mw how to upload patterns to your website so you can make this wonderful coat for your greyhound. I look in charity shops for old coats with a waterproof outer and a fleece lining. The biggest mens sizes are ideal for making dogs coats as they have really roomy sleeves and the pockets and cuffs can be carefully removed and used for legs and neck cuffs for smaller dogs and booties for all dogs plus if they still have good zips those can be saved and when you’ve got lots of off cuts of materials you can sew them together crazy paving style (patchwork) or knot lengths of yarn together and using several strands together knit on big size 13 needles to make a thick cozy bed covering or/and make them into bags to hold an inner cushion. If you insert the zips you’ve saved from the front of jackets you can add a cushion inside made from old sheets and the saved “fluff” from your tumble drying machine lint holder and the down from your dog when you brush it! so that you can just remove the outer case to wash it. If you put an old towel on top of the bed it will save on the times it needs to be washed as the towel will absorb the doggy smells and you can just wash or poss that with your hubby’s mucky jeans and socks ! Ooops look at the time I’ve got to be up in 4 hours to walk the dogs! Time for bed it’s nearly 3 am! So I’ll say Good night and I’ll be in touch soon xoxoxo
Apple butter sounds like a great idea & I just happen to have a big jar open in the fridge right now – I’ll certainly try your recipe, thanks, Sarah! A hound coat from old coat sleeves sounds very practical; I’ve not heard of that one before, so I’ll be interested to learn more. Cheers to the minpins, rottie and lab! :)
Hi,
I love your dog boots! I’ve made a similar version to yours but taller for those long legs if I can work out how to load it I’ll let you use it, as it would be ideal for your hound too.
Regarding your granola recipe – I too was horrified at the ingredients in the shop version little more than sawdust in some it would seem!
I also put a tablespoon each (15ml) of linseeds, pumpkin seeds and chopped walnuts in mine – and for extra fibre another 15ml tablespoon of rice bran. You could use oat bran if you wanted but I’ve just discovered I’m coeliac so I cant eat oat bran unless it’s are gluten free. I can buy the gluten free oats easily but I’ve never seen gluten free oat bran so I use rice bran.
Also I use stewed apple or apple butter instead of brown sugar. It adds sweetness thast isnt overpowering and the extra moisture you need if you use the ingredients I’ve added to yours (see above) ….
I’ll try your recipe and hope you’ll try mine too. I’ll be i touch soon regarding the boots and a good coat pattern for your hound too that it is easy to make from an old coat’s sleeves!. I’m from England in the uk so the time difference is probably about 8 hours is it? but email is easy to reply to.
I look forward to hearing from you and I’ll upload a photo of your boots when I’ve made them for my minpins, rottie and lab ….. Till then have a beautiful weekend, Your friend Sarah