HOMEMADE GRANOLA BARS THAT ARE BETTER THAN THE STORE’S
If you are anything like me, you hear homemade granola bars and think “Who has time to make their own granola bars?”
Maybe you are thinking, “Why would you make your own granola bars, the ones at the store are just as good and SO cheap?”
I am here to tell you that homemade granola bars are SO. MUCH. BETTER.
During our triathlon a few years ago, a friend of mine made these homemade granola bars and I fell in love.
I was shocked at how different they tasteD from anything at the grocery store. It was as sweet as a cookie, but yet gave me fuel like an energy bar.
Needless to say, I asked her for the recipe and she GLADLY shared, thanks Sandra!
If you are looking for a healthy treat, you have got to try these!
My husband is a huge fan of these granola bars too. We ALWAYS have some of these in the freezer for a quick and healthy snack.
He likes to grab one in the morning for his lunchbox and eats it about an hour later when it is partially thawed.
Me? I like them straight out the freezer. I guess to each their own!
We might not agree on the best way to eat them, but we definitely agree that they are delicious!
INGREDIENTS
- oats
- flax seed (optional)
- honey
- salt
- peanut butter
- wheat germ (optional)
- chocolate chips
- dried fruit
As you can see, most of these ingredients you probably already have in your house. I had a hard time finding where the wheat germ was at our local grocery store and had to ask an employee. Don’t worry, you don’t have to include this!
Most of the time, I don’t have wheat germ in my house, so I just omit it and these granola bars still turn out perfectly.
You don’t have to use Craisins, any dried fruit would work. My husband and I own a blueberry farm (go check it out here- www.sunriseharvestfarms.com), so we have dried blueberries on hand. We do really like that flavor combo with a few Craisins too.
You could omit the dried fruit all together and just have a peanut butter and chocolate chip granola bar!
BUYING IN BULK
-There are a couple of items I buy in bulk at specialty stores because they are such a good deal. But, all of these ingredients should be at your local grocery store.
-Buying honey in bulk has been very cost effective. I normally do just use this big container, but you could easily refill a smaller bottle if that is easier for you. I found that Costco runs really good deals on Craisins and honey, so I normally stock up when I go a couple of times throughout the year.
This recipe could not be easier to make. Put all ingredients into a bowl and mix them up!
You can pat them into a sheet pan to make granola bars, put them in the freezer for about an hour, and then cut them into your desired size. Then, wrap each one in plastic wrap or a snack baggie (this is easier and faster). Done!
Something I recently discovered was that you don’t have to make them into actual granola bars. Uh, duh Jenna!
I don’t know why it took me so long to figure it out, but you can just form them into little bites and call them “granola bar bites”. I think that these are a little easier to make and store, but we still love the bars too. That is the beauty of it, make it your own!
STORING HOMEMADE GRANOLA BARS
Keep them in the fridge or freezer, sealed tightly. If you made them into bars, make sure to individually wrap each one so they don’t dry out.
Because this batch is so big, we like to store a few in the fridge to eat fresh within 1-2 weeks and then stick the others in the freezer. We actually REALLY like eating them frozen, maybe even better than fresh!
Healthy Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups peanut butter creamy
- 1 1/4 cup honey
- 2 cups raisins or craisins
- 2 cups chocolate chips I normally do mini
- 1 cup shredded coconut optional
- 1/2 cup wheat germ
- 5 Tbsps. Flax Seed
- 6 cups Old Fashioned Oats
- 1/4 tsp. salt
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together.
- Spread into a jellyroll pan.
- Freeze for about an hour.
- Cut into bars or scoop into balls. If cutting into bars, it is important to wrap the bars individually really well with plastic wrap or put them in a snack baggie.
- Keep in fridge or freezer.
OTHER RECIPES I THINK YOU MIGHT ENJOY
- Granola Bars
- Apple & Peanut Butter Baked Oatmeal
- Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal
- Harvest Cobb Salad– gluten free, dairy free, and AIP friendly
- Healthy Asian Lettuce Wraps– gluten free, dairy free, and AIP friendly
- Peanut Butter Energy Bites– gluten free
- PB & Jelly Energy Bites– gluten free & dairy free
As always, thanks for stopping by Living Practically. I hope you found value here and will be back for more!
