Description
Simple, healthy granola bars, no refined sugar, and tons of variations to fit your family’s tastes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 c. butter, softened
- 1 c. honey
- 4 1/2 c. rolled oats
- 1 1/2 c. whole wheat or spelt flour
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- Add-ins to equal 2 cups total:
- mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
- chopped walnuts
- dried fruit
- sunflower seeds
- coconut (use the code STEWARDSHIP for 10% off at that site!)
- other nuts…
Instructions
- Lightly butter a 9”×13” glass pan. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter, honey, and vanilla. Tip: If your butter isn’t softened, use a rolling pin and roll it between two sheets of wax paper. Or mash it with your hands while in the wrapper. Our secret.
- Add the oats, flour, and baking soda. Beat well until combined. Stir in add-ins by hand. Press mixture hard into pan. (You can use your hands!)
- Bake at 325 degrees F for 15-22 minutes until just golden brown on the edges. You will think they are too soft. They are not. Just remind yourself that there’s not even any egg in the recipe, so you can’t hurt anybody if you underbake.
- Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before cutting into bars. Let bars cool completely in pan before removing and serving. Store at room temperature or freeze.
Notes
Stickier, Chewier Granola Bars:
The one drawback of this original recipe is that it tends to be a bit crumbly, especially if you overbake the bars even slightly. You can avoid that by melting the butter, honey and vanilla in a saucepan and cooking on low for 5 minutes after the butter melts, then mixing the liquid ingredients into the dry.
Originally adapted from a recipe in Faith and Family Magazine.