Homemade Granola Bars

I love me a sweet and salty bite. Like sprinkling sea salt on chocolate chip cookies. There's nothing better.
I also love me a healthy snack. I am always looking for a way to perk up our daily lunches. It  would be  so much easier to give in and throw some chips in a bag, or just buy lunch instead of taking the time to make something healthy and flavorful. But that is just not how I roll.

I wanted to find a granola bar recipe that met a few criteria. 1) No added sugar. I wanted sweet stuff in it, but not necessarily the bar itself. I lied. Unless brown sugar doesn't count as sugar. Food blogger fail.  2) Quick and easy to make. I have a theory that the garage below my apartment is in actuality an open furnace, because no matter how long I blast the a/c, it will not cool down. So quick to mix in a bowl and bake was a must. 3) It had to be customizable. This recipe allows you to add up to 2 and 1/4c of whatever mix-ins you prefer.

Hello delicious. Salty, sweet, crunchy, chewy, the perfect afternoon snack.

Homemade Granola Bars

adapted from My Baking Addiction

Ingredients

2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup wheat germ
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup honey
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Up to 2 1/4 cup of mix-ins. I used:

     -1/2 c. chopped almonds

     -3/4 c. dark chocolate chips

     -1/2 c. chopped dried apple slices

     -1/4 c. flaxseeds

     -1/4 c. salted chopped salted pistachios

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in the honey, egg, oil and vanilla.
3. Mix well using your hands, add in cherries, chocolate chips and almonds. Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
4. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until the bars begin to turn golden around the edges. Cool on wire rack for about 30 minutes before cutting. Do not allow the bars to cool completely before cutting because they will crumble.

 

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