CHEWY GRANOLA BARS
By Deb Vaughn
In an attempt to redeem myself, I offer the following "healthy" recipe. The original recipe, which came from a Quaker Oats box, used refined sugar, sunflower seeds and shredded coconut. That version bombed with my husband, who was frightened by a coconut as a child, so I changed it for his sake. He likes it a lot better this way.
- 1 cup honey
- 2/3 cup smooth peanut butter
- 2 2/3 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp cloves
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/3 cup wheat germ
- 2 cups of mix-ins in any combination of the following: coconut, raisins, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, peanutbutter chips, unsalted peanuts, miniature M&Ms, any finely chopped dried fruit such as dates, apricots, apples, etc.
METHOD:
Mix honey and peanutbutter until well blended. It might help to warm the honey in the microwave about 20 seconds so that it is not so stiff. Stir in oats, flour, wheat germ and mix-ins. If mixture seems too dry, add water 1 Tbsp at a time. If it is too sticky, add oats 1 Tbsp at a time. Mixture should be slightly sticky, but still easily spread in a pan with greased fingers. Press into a 9x13 pan lightly greased.
Bake at 350 until barely browned. DO NOT OVERBAKE! Cut while warm into desired sized bars. When completely cool, remove from pan with a greased spatula.
Wrap each bar separately in plastic wrap and then store in a zip bag or air-tight container. These freeze extremely well. Save the crumbs for ice cream topping. Makes about 2 dozen bars.
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