Homemade Granola Bars

The best thing about cooking, baking, or anything you do, is that there are no limits to what your mind can come up with.  Experimenting with tastes and flavors are what makes it so much fun.  Don't be afraid to try something new and don't be afraid to deviate from the original recipe. 

Always write down what you did.  If you added, changed, deleted steps, or ingredients mark it down.  Also mark down the results of the change and the date that you did it.  This is a great way to know what works and what doesn't. 

Don't worry if something you try does not work out, or the taste is awful.  The only way you are going to know how good something is, or how well it works, is by trial and error.  Find honest people to taste test for you.  Never be afraid of someone telling you that something is not good or needs changing.  Practice is the best way to get better and never be afraid of getting better. 

Kids can be your biggest enemy, but once you find something that they like they are your biggest fans.  Let them help, even if it is something as simple as letting them pick a new flavor of muffins to try or adding the flour to the batter.  They will feel like they are a part of what you are doing and they can then take pride in the end result.

This is one of those recipes where my kids get a lot of say in what goes into them. 
These granola bars not only have TONS of flavor, but are made with simple everyday ingredients.  The only limit there is on what you can add is your own imagination. 


Here's what you need:

2 cups of quick cooking oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup peanut butter (or you could use 1 stick of butter softened)
1/2 cup chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruit (or anything your imagination can come up with)

For this recipe we used, chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, dried cherries, dried cranberries, dried apricots, walnuts, and slivered almonds.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.  Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.
Mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl.  (I found that if you spray your wooden spoon with a little bit of cooking spray before mixing, it helps from creating one big giant clump.)

 

Press firmly into the prepared pan and bake for 18 minutes or until lightly brown along the edges.
Let cool for 5 minutes and then cut into either squares or rectangles.  Store in an air tight container.

 

I have to admit that these are a great healthy snack that all 3 of my kids LOVE.  We have made some with dried cranberries, dried cherries, peanut butter chips, walnuts, almonds, and my one daughters favorite Indulgent Trail Mix. 


I hope you will give these a try!!


Happy Baking and Enjoy!!