From the time our family went on a trip to Arizona and we tasted some of Nonna’s homemade granola bars, making granola bars at home has been a favorite snack of mine. I love to make a batch of granola bars, wrap them individually and freeze them. That way no matter how quickly or slowly we go through them they are sure to be a hit.
Homemade granola bars are my favorite go to snack when we rush out the door. I simply grab one or several from the freezer, pack them in my bag and off we go. There is not always a lot of time to preplan snacks on the go, and homemade granola bars are a great go to item. Other snacks I like to grab when rushing out the door are bananas, apples, and crackers.
Homemade granola bars are my favorite go to snack when we rush out the door. I simply grab one or several from the freezer, pack them in my bag and off we go. There is not always a lot of time to preplan snacks on the go, and homemade granola bars are a great go to item. Other snacks I like to grab when rushing out the door are bananas, apples, and crackers.
My favorite part about making homemade granola bars is that you know exactly what is in them. You don’t need to worry about additives and artificial colors when making them with all natural ingredients. The other big plus is that they are more economical than a lot of my favorite pre-packaged granola bars. Some of the healthier pre-packaged versions can cost a lot of money, especially when eating 4 at a time for a family on the go.
Here are 2 fantastic homemade granola bar recipes from 2 special women I know:
Nonna’s Homemade Granola Bars
Ingredients:
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup honey
½ cup coconut
½ cup grated carrots
½ cup chocolate chips
½ cup cranberries or raisins
3 ½ cups oatmeal
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 ⁰ F
In a saucepan melt peanut butter and honey over medium low heat.
In a large mixing bowl combine coconut, grated carrots, chocolate chips, and cranberries, stir.
Pour the melted peanut butter-honey mixture into the mixing bowl and stir to combine.
Lastly, stir in the oatmeal.
Pour into a 9x13inch pan, spreading evenly.
Bake for 20-25 minutes.
*Try substituting the coconut, carrots, chocolate chips or cranberries for some of your favorite ingredients.
The last time I made these granola bars I switched things up using ingredients I already had in the house and made them with:
Peanut butter
Honey
Unsweetened coconut
Half of a 90% cacao Lindt chocolate bar, chopped
Raisins
Sliced almonds
Oatmeal
It is a fun recipe to get creative with and make into your own special creation!
Here are 2 fantastic homemade granola bar recipes from 2 special women I know:
Nonna’s Homemade Granola Bars
Ingredients:
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup honey
½ cup coconut
½ cup grated carrots
½ cup chocolate chips
½ cup cranberries or raisins
3 ½ cups oatmeal
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 ⁰ F
In a saucepan melt peanut butter and honey over medium low heat.
In a large mixing bowl combine coconut, grated carrots, chocolate chips, and cranberries, stir.
Pour the melted peanut butter-honey mixture into the mixing bowl and stir to combine.
Lastly, stir in the oatmeal.
Pour into a 9x13inch pan, spreading evenly.
Bake for 20-25 minutes.
*Try substituting the coconut, carrots, chocolate chips or cranberries for some of your favorite ingredients.
The last time I made these granola bars I switched things up using ingredients I already had in the house and made them with:
Peanut butter
Honey
Unsweetened coconut
Half of a 90% cacao Lindt chocolate bar, chopped
Raisins
Sliced almonds
Oatmeal
It is a fun recipe to get creative with and make into your own special creation!
Next is a second homemade granola bar recipe from my friend Shauna. She makes these for her daughter who loves them!
Shauna’s Yummy Granola Bars
3 Cups Large Flake Oats
2 Cups Crisp Rice Cereal
1 Cup Unsweetened Coconut
¾ Cup Each of Almonds and Walnuts (Crushed)
1 Cup Dried Cranberries (or you can try Raisins, Apples or whatever dried fruit you like-I chop them up in a grinder for my toddler)
½ Cup Butter
½ Cup Honey
1 Cup Brown Sugar
Combine oats, rice krispies, coconut, nuts and cranberries and stir to mix.
Melt butter in large pot over medium-low heat. While stirring, add honey and brown sugar.
When mixture starts to bubble add dry ingredients and stir well. Stirring constantly, cook for approximately 6 minutes.
Press into lightly greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Use a large flat utensil (i.e. potato masher) to firmly press bars into pan. (I've also tried putting a layer of chocolate chips on the bottom of the pan before pressing the granola bar in - if you want it even yummier)
Cool completely and cover. Leave in pan and cut to desired size as needed or cut into individual bars and wrap. Your choice. Enjoy!
Thank you very much ladies for sharing your wonderful homemade granola bar recipes!
If you had to pick one favorite ingredient you like in a granola bar what would it be?
Shauna’s Yummy Granola Bars
3 Cups Large Flake Oats
2 Cups Crisp Rice Cereal
1 Cup Unsweetened Coconut
¾ Cup Each of Almonds and Walnuts (Crushed)
1 Cup Dried Cranberries (or you can try Raisins, Apples or whatever dried fruit you like-I chop them up in a grinder for my toddler)
½ Cup Butter
½ Cup Honey
1 Cup Brown Sugar
Combine oats, rice krispies, coconut, nuts and cranberries and stir to mix.
Melt butter in large pot over medium-low heat. While stirring, add honey and brown sugar.
When mixture starts to bubble add dry ingredients and stir well. Stirring constantly, cook for approximately 6 minutes.
Press into lightly greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Use a large flat utensil (i.e. potato masher) to firmly press bars into pan. (I've also tried putting a layer of chocolate chips on the bottom of the pan before pressing the granola bar in - if you want it even yummier)
Cool completely and cover. Leave in pan and cut to desired size as needed or cut into individual bars and wrap. Your choice. Enjoy!
Thank you very much ladies for sharing your wonderful homemade granola bar recipes!
If you had to pick one favorite ingredient you like in a granola bar what would it be?
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