Golden Chewy Granola Bars
After checking out a few recipes for homemade granola bars and comparing them against what I had in my pantry, I came up with my own recipe for chewy snack bars. I’m hoping the hubby and kids will enjoy them in their packed lunches or just as a snack.
By the way, folks, I have to apologize for taking several days off of writing posts. I have just been plain-old busy and besides that my computer monitor is on the brink and, although, I can use it, it is rather giving me a headache. (Picture a cartoon character that has been clobbered on the head and has swirly eyes.) Anyway, I will try to tough it out today and we will be looking for a new monitor very soon.
Back to the granola bars… I’ve been making more of these types of treats lately because buying the ingredients is SO much less expensive than buying the treats themselves. They are probably better for you, too, although I am not fooling myself because they are still loaded with sugar and corn syrup. We are getting a whole grain, but I’m not sure it is worth it with all of that sugar. But then again, how else is a person supposed to make granola bars chewy?
So, here we go, people — homemade chewy granola bars. Feel free to add your own creativeness to this recipe. I had chopped dates on hand — you might have raisins, mini chocolate chips, cranberries or some kind of nuts.
Golden Chewy Granola Bars
makes about 18-24
3 c. old-fashioned oats
1 c. white or wheat flour
1 1/2 c. crisped rice cereal
1 t. baking soda
dash of salt
1 t. cinnamon
1 c. butter, room temperature or slightly warmed in the microwave
3/4 c. corn syrup
2/3 c. brown sugar
1 c. chopped dates
Assembly is simple: you need two bowls, a large one for the dry ingredients, and a smaller one for the wet ingredients. Into the large bowl goes the oats, flour, cereal, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and the dates (or whatever yummy add-ins you like). Into the smaller bowl goes the butter, corn syrup, brown sugar.
Heat your oven to 325 degrees.
Toss the dry ingredients together until they are well combined, then tackle the wet ingredients. Use a mixer and cream the butter with the corn syrup and brown sugar, as if you were making cookies. When it is a delicious-looking, pale yellow, fluffy mixture, fold it into the dry ingredients. It will take a little elbow grease to get it worked in, but no one said this was going to be a walk in the park.
Once it is all combined, grease a jelly-roll pan or a 9×13 pan, and flop this sloppy granola into it. Spread and press it down firmly. I tried a spatula, then waxed paper, then finally settled on spreading it with my bare hands — it is pretty sticky!
Finally, place it in your preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes, give or take a couple of minutes. It will turn golden brown and when you give it a little shake, it will be set on the edges and just a little soft in the middle.
Resist the temptation to taste them right away! Let them cool completely before cutting and serving, otherwise you will have a big, sticky mess on your hands.
ENJOY!
Add comment June 20th, 2007