The Frugal Gourmom: Homemade Granola Bars

These are REALLY good and so much more filling than a regular store-bought granola bar. Chewy, sweet and full of fiber, healthy fats and fruits :) You can get really creative with these and make them your own.

This recipe will make 12 large granola bars or 24 granola squares. You can play around with the nuts and fruits depending on what you like. Raisins? Peanuts? Peanut Butter Chips? Dried cherries? YES!!!

Joseph's has a great bulk foods section with a huge array of fun ingredients for these at a really great price. You can just mix the fruit, nuts & chips together with some cereal for a great trail mix.

Ingredients
3 cups of old fashioned oats
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup of whole wheat flour
1 tsp salt
3/4 cup of dried cranberries
1/2 cup of slivered almonds
1/2 cup of unsalted toasted sunflower seeds
1/2 cup of mini-chocolate chips

1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup of Smart Balance Oil (or any other vegetable oil)
1 egg (or 1 tbsp ground flax seed mixed with 3 tbsp of water to sub for the egg)
1 tsp vanilla extract

TIP!!!!! - Try subbing 1 tbsp of ground flax seed + 3 tbsp water for the egg! It works! Annnd, I used 1/2 cup of reduced fat peanut butter + 1/2 cup honey + 1/4 cup of oil. Worked great! Leave out the cinnamon & vanilla if you're using peanut butter.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Get a 9x13 pan out and spray with baking spray liberally.

In a large bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, flour, cranberries, almonds, sunflower seeds, chocolate chips and salt and make a well in the center.

Now measure out the oil and honey (I just use a glass 2 cup measuring cup) - add the egg and vanilla. Beat this mixture very well.

Pour it into the oat mixture and combine until it's all moistened and uniformly mixed.

Pat the granola mixture into the greased pan so it's nice and compressed.

Bake for 30 minutes...the bars will get a bit golden at the edges. Cool for about 5 minutes and then cut into bars while it's still warm. When cooled completely, wrap individually in saran wrap :) Mmmmmm.