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There’s something about environmentally-unfriendly single-serving packaged snacks that children find irresistible. Maybe it’s the “all mine” factor, or the satisfying crinkle of those little bags, but it’s hard to compete with a store-bought granola bar for my kids’ affection in the snack category.
These bars did the trick partly because they were fun and hands-on to make, and partly because they’re basically cookies. Mmm, cookies. This recipe, from Good to the Grain, was a great starting point–chewy, sweet and oaty–but I expect to do a little experimentation in the future to find a granola bar that comes closer to being a healthy kid snack. On the other hand, these would make a great hiking snack if you actually needed a sugar boost, and I quite enjoyed them as an afternoon sweet alongside a cup of tea. We’ll just be calling them “cookies” from now on.
Do you have a granola bar recipe you like? Do tell.
Granola Cookie Bars: Melt 1/4 c. butter in a heavy skillet and toast 2 c. oats, stirring often, for 6 minutes over medium heat. Transfer toasted oats to a large bowl and add 1/2 c. flaxseed meal, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, and 1/2 c. raisins, finely chopped with another Tbsp. flaxseed meal (to keep your knife from sticking). Mix everything up with the oats. Wipe out your skillet and return it to medium heat, adding 1/2 c. honey, 1/4 c. dark brown sugar, 1 Tbsp. unsulphered (not blackstrap) molasses, and 1 tsp. kosher salt. Cook syrup 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour syrup over oat mixture and stir well to combine. Transfer mixture to a well-buttered 9×9 (or 7×11) pan and press them firmly into an even layer. Bake at 325 for about 25 minutes, rotating pan after 15 minutes, until the edge of the pan is a little darker than the middle. Cool 15 minutes, then cut into 16-20 bars and cool on a rack.
Emmy Cooks 
These would be good for me, b/c I am notorious for eating *part* of a granola bar and then putting it back in the wrapper and losing it in the cupboard for months. One of my most endearing qualities according to my husband.
These are perfect, then! I recently made a pan of granola bars and cut them into 1.5″ squares for a kindergarten potluck. There’s so much more flexibility when you DIY. Those granola bar manufacturers are not thinking of you at ALL with their package sizes!
These look really good. I might actually try them tomorrow. :)
I hope you liked them if you tried them!
It’s not just kids – I love single serving snacks too! These look very more-ish :)
Can I just tell you how much I love the expression “more-ish”? It always makes me grin. Thanks! :)
I’ve tried many, including this one. For a while I was hot on Mark Bittman’s no-bake ones. My current favorite is the King Arthur Flour granola bar, which recently appeared in Smitten Kitchen.
Ok, so I tried those King Arthur granola bars on your recommendation, using SK’s reduced amount of sugar but the 9×13 pan from the KAF recipe. They were deeeelicious but didn’t hold together well. Which version of the recipe do you use and what size pan? I am definitely going to do some tinkering with that recipe until it holds together as well as this one! I think the secret here might have been boiling the syrup, maybe I can work that in.
They look like they turned out perfectly! I have been a little scared to try making granola bars after reading David Lebovitz’s granola bar fails (do you read his blog?), but this is really encouraging!
I do read David Lebovitz’s blog (and I’m reading his book now too for http://www.teaandcookiesblog.com‘s book club!). And I did read that his granola bars always fall apart. All I can say is, he never tried this recipe. These were solid (in a good way). :)
Looks like it! Will have to give them a try. Poor Lebovitz. His granola bars always look so tragic!
“Basically cookies.” Yes, you’ve got it. They look great!
“Basically cookies” is a food group that is as popular with me as with my kids. “Actually cookies” gets high marks as well. :)
Oh my gooey goodness. Bookmarking now!
Enjoy! I’d say that these are great energy food for those of you who are actually runners–as well as those of us who just sit around eating granola bars all day. :)
Hey, I haven’t run since Ragnar ;) I can’t think of a better way to spend my day!