Homemade Granola Bars!

Tweet

I experimented with two different granola bars this week, and wanted to share the recipes with you!  They are different in ingredients and taste, so try both and see which ones you like better (we preferred the second recipe ourselves).  These were fun to make with Micah, so get your kids ready and make some granola bars!

The first recipe is one that I found in the newspaper.

Homemade Granola Bars
2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup wheat germ
2 cups crispy rice cereal
1 cup nonfat dry milk powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
pinch salt
2 tablespoons canola oil
4 egg whites, lightly beaten
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (we used raisins instead)

Line a 9x13 pan with foil.  Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.  Stir well, using hands if necessary, and be sure all ingredients are evenly moist.  Press mixture firmly into prepared pan using back of spatula.

Bake in a preheated 325-degree oven 18-22 minutes until nicely browned.  Place on a rack to cool.  While pan is slightly warm, carefully cut into small bars.  Store in a sealed container for up to a week or place in plastic freezer bags and freeze.  Makes 22 bars.

These bars turned out a little dry for our taste, but the boys did eat them.   Micah actually preferred this granola bar, although the rest of us preferred the second recipe.

Chewy Whole Grain Cereal Bars
This was a recipe I received a few years ago and I'm sorry I don't know who to give credit to!

Nonstick Cooking Spray
1/2 cup honey or rice syrup
1/2 cup chunky almond butter or peanut butter
1/2 cup nonfat dry milk powder or soy milk powder
3 cups whole grain flake cereal
1 cup dried fruit bits

(Note: we used the honey and peanut butter, and omitted the fruit bits and used 1 small box of raisins instead. We bought whole wheat flake cereal from the 99 cent store and crushed it in a ziplock bag before mixing).

Spray an 8-inch square baking dish with nonfat cooking spray.  Set aside.
In a 3-quart saucepan, combine honey or rice syrup and almond butter or peanut butter.  Heat over medium heat until melted and smooth, about 2 minutes, stirring constantly.  Stir in milk powder or soy milk powder until blended.  Add cereal and fruit bits; stir until coated.  Spoon mixture into prepared dish; spread evenly and press into dish with back of spoon.  Serve immediately, or refrigerate until firm (bars are easier to slice when firm).  Makes 16 bars.   (We ate all of them in 1 day) :)

(Have I mentioned that Micah doesn't like his picture taken?)