Easy Homemade Granola Bars

Homemade granola bars are an easy and healthy after-school snack and aren’t as sweet as the store-bought varieties. They can be stored in an air-tight container to have handy when hunger strikes.

Double Peanut Granola Bars

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooling time: 1 hour

Baking time: 25 minutes

Makes 14 bars

Ingredients:

• 2 cups (500 mL) old-fashioned rolled oats
• ¾ cup (175 mL) peanuts, chopped
• ¼ cup (60 mL) raisins
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) ground flax seed (optional)
• ½ tsp (2 mL) cinnamon
• ¼ tsp (1 mL) salt
• ⅓ cup (75 mL) liquid honey
• ¼ cup (60 mL) peanut butter
• ¼ cup (60 mL) brown sugar
• 3 tbsp (45 mL) butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Grease an 8×8-inch (20×20-cm) baking pan and line with parchment paper, letting it stick and hang over the pan. In a large bowl, stir oats with peanuts, raisins, flax seed, cinnamon and salt.

Place honey, peanut butter, brown sugar and butter in a medium saucepan set over medium-high heat. Stir constantly until sugar is dissolved and mixture boils around edges, about 1 minute. Pour over oatmeal mixture and stir well to combine.

Using damp fingers, press firmly into pan. Bake in preheated oven until edges are a deep golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes.

Cool completely in pan. Using the parchment paper, remove to a cutting board then discard parchment. Slice into bars and store in an airtight container.

The Author:

More great recipes can be found at peanutbureau.ca.