Better-than-bought Granola Bars
Made by: Victoria
These delicious oat squares are right at home in a kid’s lunch box, as a snack or even as that little sweet something after dinner. Remember to skip the nuts if your kids are taking them to school!
Recipe
Better-Than-Bought Granola Bars
Servings: 28 (or so) squares
Prep time: 30 minutes
Setting time: 2 hours
Total time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Ingredients
5 cups quick rolled oats
½ cup whole almonds or pecans, coarsely chopped
½ cup melted butter
⅔ cup honey
½ cup light brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ cup sweetened flaked coconut
½ cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
½ cup and a bit more chocolate chips
Directions
Heat oven to 350˚F. Line bottom and sides of a 9x13-inch pan with tinfoil and lightly oil or spray with cooking spray.
Spread oats and nuts onto parchment paper on 1 or 2 baking sheets. Bake for 5 minutes, stir, then bake another 3 to 5 minutes until lightly toasted. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool for a few minutes.
While the oats are toasting, melt butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla and salt in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally until butter has melted and sugar is dissolved. Let cool for a few minutes.
When both mixtures have cooled slightly, pour the butter mixture into the bowl with the rolled oats. Mix well and let cool some more.
Add chopped cranberries and chocolate chips and stir until combined. If your mixture is too hot, the chocolate chips will melt. (But it will still taste great anyway!)
Top with extra chocolate chips and a sprinkling of coconut. Press into the prepared pan using your hands, a spatula or a large spoon. Do this for at least a minute to make sure the bars keep their shape.
Refrigerate or let set on the counter for at least 2 hours before cutting into squares.
Holy granola!
Elevate breakfast or dessert by crumbling one of these squares on top of yogurt or ice cream.