Homemade Chewy Granola Bars

 Ingredients

·     2 cups (160 g) oats

·     ½ cup (96g) sugar

·     ½ tsp salt

·     ¼ tsp cinnamon (can also add cardamom, nutmeg, ginger…)

·     2 ½ cups additions including any combination of: dried fruits, seeds, nuts, flax meal, bran cereal, puffed rice cereal, crushed pretzels, chocolate ships…

·     1/3 cup (60 g) peanut or other nut butter

·     6 tbsp (89 ml) olive oil (or other oil or melted butter)

·     ¼ cup (60 ml) honey, maple syrup, or agave syrup

·     1 tbsp (15 ml) water

Prep time: 15 Min   Cook Time:   30 Min      Total Time: 45 Min

Instructions

1.    Preheat oven to 350F.  Depending on desired thickness, line a square or rectangular dish with parchment paper, then lightly grease the paper with non-stick cooking spray,  oilm or butter.  

2.    Process 1/3 cup (27 g) of the oats in a blender or food processor until finely ground.

3.    If necessary, chop up dried fruit and nuts.  Raisin size pieces are fine.

4.    Stir together all dry ingredients (oats, ground oats, sugar, salt, cinnamon, fruits/nuts/seeds)

5.    Whisk together wet ingredients, then spread in a pan.  Press firmly into the corners and edge until top is even.  

6.    Bake for around 30 minutes, until the top starts to brown.  Thicker bars will take longer.  The edges will be golden and they may feel underdone in the center, but that’s ok.  

7.    Let cool in the pan on a cooling rack for at least 20 minutes, then take out of the pan using the parchment paper.  Let cool completely before cutting.  

8.    You can wrap these in serving sizes in baggies or plastic wrap for easy snacking. 

Originally by: Bowen Appetit