These granola bars are kid-friendly in two senses – both to make them and to eat them – and they are chewier and have far less sugar than store-bought brands. Adults love ’em too, especially to nibble on before or after a workout! Feel free to vary the ingredients below depending what kind of nuts or dried fruit you have at home.
Ingredients:
- 1 and 2/3 cups rolled oats
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup almond flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 and 1/2 cups raisins
- 1/2 cup chopped almonds
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut
- 6 tablespoons melted Earth Balance butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons cane sugar syrup or corn syrup
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1/3 cup peanut butter
- In a large bowl, mix together the oats, sugar, flour, salt, cinnamon, raisins, almonds, and coconut. Set aside.
- In a second bowl, whisk together the melted butter, vanilla, maple syrup, cane sugar syrup, and water.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, along with the peanut butter, and stir until the mixture is moist.
- Press into a 9-inch baking pan coated with cooking spray. If it’s sticky, place a piece of plastic wrap on top so you can easily press the mixture into an even layer.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 40 minutes.
Note: Our bars came out a bit crumbly. I would add a little more liquid sweetener or water next time, for even better results!