Honey-Oat Granola Bars
Are granola bars healthy?
When they first became popular, back in the 1980s when my kids were little kids, I thought so. And in my efforts to be a “good mother” who tried to give my children healthy food, I bought what was available then. Granola bars were frequent snacks in the house and for school.
I later learned that many of those so-called healthy snacks weren’t.
Just because something is called granola doesn’t mean it’s healthy.
Like if the bars are loaded with trans fats, hydrogenated vegetable oil, high fructose corn syrup, marshmallows, chocolate, artificial color and so on.
Here’s a recipe for Honey-Oat Granola Bars. Yes, they have chocolate. And honey is a sweetener. And there’s a little brown sugar in there. Still, there’s oats and dried fruit and nuts. You can add some sunflower seeds if you wish.
And they taste good. These are rich, so you just eat a little and feel snack-full.
Honey-Oat Granola Bars
2 cups quick cooking oats
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
3/4 cup honey
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 cup dried cranberries
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9-inch-square baking pan with parchment paper, letting a few inches hang over the side of pan (to help you lift the bars out of the pan). Brush the paper with vegetable oil. Place the oats on a cookie sheet and bake for 5-6 minutes, mixing them once during the baking process, to toast them slightly. Mix the vegetable oil, honey and brown sugar in a saucepan and cook over medium heat for 1-2 minutes or until blended, smooth and hot. Combine the toasted oats, almonds, chocolate chips, cranberries, cinnamon and salt in a bowl. Pour in the honey mixture and stir until well blended. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until toasty brown. Let cool in the pan. Lift the square out of pan using the overhanging paper. Cut into squares or rectangles.
Makes about 2 dozen