I’ve been trying to save money on groceries, and my husband pointed out that we spend a lot on ‘snacks’ for the kids. I decided to try and make some snacks instead of paying high prices for pre-packaged ones, and in the process I found this WONDERFUL granola bar recipe at Raising Olives. I adjusted it to fit our likings, and it turned out great!
Ingredients:
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2 cups rolled oats
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3/4 cup packed brown sugar
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3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
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1 cup whole wheat flour
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1/4 cup white chocolate chips (Optional: any Dried Fruit, Raisins, Craisins, Nuts, Chocolate Chips, Coconut Flakes, have fun with this!)
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3/4 teaspoon salt
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1/2 cup honey
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1 egg, beaten
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1/2 cup coconut oil (Melted! I microwave about 30 seconds until liquid, this makes it MUCH easier to work with!)
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2 teaspoons vanilla extract
STEP 1: Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9×13 baking dish.
STEP 2: Mix together dry ingredients, then make a well in the center and add the honey, beaten egg, melted coconut oil, and vanilla extract. Mix well. Pat the mixture evenly into the baking dish.
STEP 3: Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the edges are beginning to turn golden. (I did 30 because we like them softer.) Cool for 5 minutes and then cut into bars and remove from dish WHILE STILL WARM. Otherwise, you’ll have to chip it out with a chisel. But then I suppose you could use crumbled pieces for ice cream topping. So, if that’s your goal, go ahead and let it cool as long as you wish. ;o)
STEP 3: Eat one before calling in the crew, well, unless you don’t want any that is. Then make another batch.
Some substitutions: You can substitute olive or peanut oil, but I HIGHLY recommend the coconut, it provides great flavor! It’s found in the oil section of the baking isle.
Notes: I’ve never worked with coconut oil before, so I was surprised to see it. Just so you’re not surprised, this is what it looks like:
Yep, its a solid much like lard, only healthy :0) It’s important to melt this or it will be VERY hard to mix into your granola bars.
This recipe turned out so well, I’d suggest making a double batch! I keep the bars in a sealed Tupperware container which helps keep them softer.
Hope you enjoy them!
I lost this recipe in our move and I was sooooo upset!! My kids and family LOVE these!!! I honestly couldn’t remember when I found the recipe because it was a while ago, and I’m SOOOOO thankful I found it!! These are great!!!
Confessions of a Homeschooler – What brand of coconut oil do you recommend?
I plan on making some of these today. They sound great! One quick question. Are they freezer friendly? If so, I plan on making a double batch. Thank you for this recipe and all that you do. I have been following you daily for 2 yrs now and just love love love your site.
Considering the cost of the ingredients, are these homemade granola bars really less expensive than store-bought? They sure are better tasting and healthier:-)
Yum! This is the best, easiest granola bar recipe I’ve found! I melted in some peanut butter with the oil for some added protein. Thanks!
How long are the granola bars good if they are kept in a tupperware container?
We love these granola bars and make them a few times a month. The granola bars last at least a week in a Tupperware and then by that point they have all been eaten at our house.
Awesome bars!!! We all love it!!! tnx, Erica!!!
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Parchment paper sprayed with veg oil is essential to getting the bars out easily.
Also, I use my large baking sheet to place the loose granola, cover it with plastic wrap and roll it down firmly with a rolling pin before baking. Incidentally, the rolling pin just fits inside the width of the pan!
I also discovered that I can line a bread pan with margarine wrappers, (margarine side up) for doing quick breads like zucchini or banana bread! Worked briliiantly! (Necessity being the mother of invention, having run out of spray and parchment without knowing before starting!) Yay!
Great website, Erica; look forward to every post!
BTW, when do you do your shopping for the week/month? What’s your list look like? Do you do a marathon cooking day and make multiple freezer entrees? Are you doing lessons on cooking with the kids? Can you do a post about these things?!
Blessings this year, K.B. from Butler, PA