Granola Bars

The more adventurous I become in the kitchen, the more I realize that I can make pretty much…anything…with the right instruction.  Dishes previously thought off-limits and the stuff of Professional Chefs, or factories are, in fact, quite accessible with the right recipe.

Take these easy, chewy, flavorful granola bars for example.  Has anyone ever made granola bars? I know I sure haven’t! The clusters, the ubiquitous mass, the whole flavorful sticky concoction seemed previously like a mystery to me.  I just couldn’t imagine how, without honey-flavored glue, one makes a granola bar!

The truth is, honey is just that: the secret glue to making granola bars.  With the right ratio of sugary/sticky to dry clustery ingredients, granola bars can be made out of the most basic of ingredients in our pantries: nuts, dried fruit, oats, almonds, coconut, and honey.  For me, I think the combination of sliced almonds with dry fruits and oats (and just a hint of coconut) are what make these granola bars soooo good.  They actually taste like a fancy, expensive snack.  Now that’s healthy and Clearly Delicious.

Granola Bars

These easy, richly flavorful granola bars come from Debbie’s New York Kitchen over at Smitten Kitchen.  Her recipe can be found here.

Ingredients:

* 2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal

* 1 cup sliced almonds

* 1 cup shredded coconut, loosely packed (I used unsweetened)

* 1/2 cup toasted wheat germ

* 2/3 cup honey

* 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

* 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

* 1 1/2 cup dried fruit, or a mix of dried fruit (I used chopped apricots, cranberries and raisins)

1.) Add all ingredients to a bowl: oats, raisins, almonds, dried cranberries, salt, vanilla extract, coconut, almonds, and wheat germ.

2.) Mix to combine dry ingredients.

3.) Add honey and mix to fully integrate.  Line a standard square baking sheet with parchment paper and pour ingredients into pan.  Press/pack down ingredients to fit the pan tightly.

4.) Bake in 350F oven for 35 minutes.

5.) Allow to cool completely (Debbie suggests 2-3 hours).  Then, cut into 1 x 1 inch squares.  For me, this made about 12 granola bars.  Enjoy!

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