Wednesday, 24 February, 2010

On The Table: Homemade Granola Bars

Here is a great recipe for homemade granola bars. It's a bit more labour intensive than just grabbing a box at the store but the rewards are worth it. Commercial granola bars are laden with corn syrup, oil and sugar and are just plain unhealthy when it comes down to it. Instead try these on for size...

Homemade Granola Bar Recipe
These granola bars are a great alternative to the store-bought versions. They are less expensive and more nutritious and kids will love them!

Ingredients:

2 cups oatmeal, 1 cup sliced almonds, 1 cup shredded coconut, 1/2 cup toasted wheat germ, 3 tbsp unsalted butter, 2/3 cup honey, 1/4 cup light brown sugar, 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, 1/4 tsp salt, 1 cup mixed chopped dried fruit (raisins, dates, apricots, cranberries etc...)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F, grease a 8x12 inch baking pan and line with parchment paper. Toss oatmeal, almonds and coconut together on a sheet pan bake for 10-12 minutes until lightly browned. Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl and add wheat germ. Reduce the oven temperature to 300F. Place butter, honey, sugar, vanilla and salt in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook and stir for one minute then pour over the toasted oatmeal mixture. Add the dried fruit and mix well. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and gently press into the pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes until brown. Cool for at least 2 to 3 hours before cutting into squares.