How to make granola bars?

Granola bars are full of healthy, natural ingredients and make an ideal snack food. They are full of energy giving nutrients, protein and carbohydrates. Homemade granola bars are perfect for a healthy addition to a lunch box or activities like cycling and hiking. This article provides you with step by step instructions in order to facilitate granola bar making.

Ingredients needed

2 cups oats ¾ cup brown sugar ½ cup wheat germ ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 cup flour ¾ cup raisins 1 cup chopped nuts ½ cup honey 1 egg ½ cup vegetable oil 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Equipment needed

Baking pan measuring 8 inches x 8 x 2 inches depth Aluminium foil Spatula Mixing bowl Knife Airtight container Cling film or airtight bags

Preparation

Using a baking pan measuring 8 inches x 8 x 2, line the pan with aluminium foil to make it easy to remove the cooked product. Grease the foil very lightly with melted butter. Preheat your oven to 325 F (160 C).

Mixing the ingredients together

Using a mixing bowl large enough for the task, place all the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly until they are evenly combined (ensure all the larger sized ingredients are evenly chopped). Add egg, honey and oil and combine until you have a dry even mixture.

Adding the mixture to the baking tin

Place the mixture into the greased and lined baking pan you prepared earlier. Press the mixture down using a spatula, ensuring the corners are filled and an even layer is achieved throughout the pan.

Cooking, cooling and cutting

Bake in the centre of the preheated oven for 30 minutes. When cooked, the edges should be golden brown in colour. Remove from the oven and leave to set for a few minutes. As the mixture begins to cool, cut into bars. This mixture is ideal for making 16 chewy granola bars. Once cut, remove the bars from the baking pan and place them onto a cooling tray until they have fully cooled down. They are now ready for storage or eating.

Storage

Store the granola bars in the refrigerator or in an airtight container. Tip: The bars can easily be individually wrapped in cling film or small airtight bags.

Alternatives to the recipe

For a tasty alternative to this granola bar recipe, try adding cranberries, chocolate chips or dried apricots. Tips: Always make sure that any larger sized ingredients are chopped into smaller pieces before adding to the mixture. Another alternative to the original recipe is to add some cocoa or chocolate powder to the flour(for chocolate flavoured granola bars).