Homemade granola bars – yeah, thats what I’ve been into lately, my kid wont touch the store ones anymore becuase they “taste wierd” he says, so I figured why not try making some at home, easy healthy and actually kid approved in my house.
Why I Got Into Making Homemade Granola Bars Anyways
Im not some super mom, my kitchen in this US apartment is always a mess, like right now there’s oats spilled on the counter from last nights batch, and the fridge is buzzing annoyingly. But last autumn when the leaves were turning and school started, I got sick of paying like 5 bucks for those tiny packs that vanish quick. Homemade granola bars seemed simple, oats nuts honey boom. But my first try was a disaster, they came out hard as rocks, coulda used em to fix the pothole outside. Trial and error tho, thats how we do it here.
These homemade granola bars are cheaper, no funky chemicals, and I can add what my kid likes. Healthy too – fiber from oats, protein nuts, maple syrup instead of junk sugar.
Homemade Peanut Butter Granola Bars : My Crazy Good Life
My Simple Homemade Granola Bars Recipe I Use
Heres what I do now after a few fails. Makes about 12 bars or so, depending how you slice em.
Ingredients (stuff from Walmart or wherever):
- 2 cups rolled oats old fashioned
- 1 cup crisp rice or quinoa puffs for crunch
- 1/2 cup nuts chopped, like almonds or whatever bulk from Costco
- 1/2 cup dried fruits cranberries raisins
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips mini ones
- 1/3 cup honey or maple
- 1/3 peanut butter natural
- 1 tsp vanilla
- salt pinch, cinnamon
Steps:
- Oven to 325F. Line 8×8 pan with parchment or youll regret it.
- Mix dry: oats, cereal nuts fruit.
- Heat wet in pan or micro: honey pb vanilla salt cinamon til smooth.
- Pour over dry stir good, add chips last.
- Press hard into pan.
- Bake 18-22 min til edges gold. Cool forever then cut.
Tip: if crumbly add more pb next time. If hard bake shorter. Forgiving recipe.
Homemade Healthy Granola Bar Recipe for Kids: A Fun & Nutritious Adventure | I’m the Chef Too
Look at that, kinda like what mine turn out, chewy with bits sticking out.
Twists for Kid-Approved Homemade Granola Bars
My kid is super picky, first batch he picked out all nuts. Now I do:
- Chocolate version double chips call em dessert.
- Banana pb mash banana in.
- No bake when lazy, just fridge it.
He loves em now, embarassing but I sneak some for me too or they’re gone.
5 Min No Bake Peanut Butter Chia Granola Bars
My Screw-Ups With Homemade Granola Bars So You Avoid Them
- No parchment? Spent ages scraping pan.
- Chips too soon? Melted goo everywhere, kid licked bowl tho.
- Overbake? Burnt taste, tossed it.
Anyways if your in the states with picky kids or want better than expensive store bars, try homemade granola bars. Easy healthier kid approved.
Check this from Smitten Kitchen for more: Thick Chewy Granola Bars. Or Skinnytaste: Chewy Granola Bars Pecans Chocolate.
