Granola Bars

These are not my first attempt at granola bars…

It is true.  My first attempt was not exactly a failure, as the end result was delicious and devoured.  However, we didn’t eat them in bar form.  More by the spoonful.  Oh and we didnt have a spoon.  We shoveled the granola into our mouths by the handfuls on said trip to the east coast….You know the technique.  Pour a bit into palm and then bring palm to mouth.  Quickly.  The poor New Jerseyans who witnessed my cave woman ways.  There really is no other way to eat granola while driving.  Shrug.

Do you suppose the difficulty of eating granola on the go was the reason for putting it into bar form?  Yeah, the bar was created exactly for the problem we encountered.  Quaker Oat Man was a genius.  I tried.  I wanted to be genius-like, with the Quaker hat and all.  I had good intentions, I sorta fell short.  I retried.  I succeeded.  I want a Quaker hat.  I earned that darn hat.  I wish, we as a people, would wear hats more often.  But, that is another discussion for another time.

If I become president (of anything)…hat wearing will become a law.  Just a warning.

How did we get on the subject of hats?  Sorry, it was me.  I have a bad habit of getting people off track, including myself.

Granola bars.

I suppose you could consider these nutritional.  Whole grains, dried fruit, and nuts.  Good substitute for any breakfast on the go or carb attack at 3pm.  You know, when you are sitting/standing at your work computer and you are hungry enough to eat your own arm or bite someone’s head off.  Yep, these might get you through the afternoon without any carnage.

Granola Bars

Serves about 10 to 12 bars

Ingredients

• 2 + 1/2 Cups Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
• 1/2 Cup Wheat Germ
• 1/2 Cup Flax Seed
• 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
• 1/2 Cup Almond Slices
• 1/2 Cup Pecans
• 1 + 1/2 Cup Dried Fruit ( I used dried strawberries, cranberries, and raisins)
• 1 + 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
• 6 Tbsp Butter
• 1/4 Cup Maple Syrup
• 1/4 Cup Honey
• 1/4 Cup Brown Sugar, firmly packed
• 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 Cup Almond Butter
• pinch of Salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F.

On a baking sheet, combine oats, wheat germ, flax seed, almond slices, and pecans.  Place in oven for 15 minutes, stirring half way through.  When toasting is complete, transfer dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl.  Add the dried fruit, coconut, cinnamon, and salt.

Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring butter, maple syrup, honey, brown sugar, and vanilla to a boil and boil for one minute.  Remove from heat and stir in almond butter.   Pour mixture over dry ingredients and stir to combine.

Transfer mixture to a 8 x 8 pan (or 9 x 13 for thinner bars) lined with parchment paper.  Press mixture firmly into pan.  Place in oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown.  Remove from oven and let cool completely.  I recommend cooling overnight in the fridge before slicing.

Wrap individually in parchment paper or place in sandwich bags.

Enjoy!