Description
Homemade Nutty Granola Bars bring wholesome goodness straight from your kitchen, packed with hearty oats and crunchy nuts. These delightful snacks offer a perfect balance of sweet and nutritious ingredients that energize and satisfy hungry appetites.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups (595 milliliters) old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) crispy rice cereal
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) mini chocolate chips
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) dried fruit or chopped nuts
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) brown sugar
Binding Ingredients:
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) peanut butter or almond butter
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) honey or maple syrup
Flavor and Seasoning:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare a baking pan by lining it completely with parchment paper, ensuring the paper extends slightly over the edges for easy removal.
- Create a dry base mixture by thoroughly combining rolled oats and crispy rice cereal in a spacious mixing bowl.
- Craft the binding syrup by gently melting peanut butter, honey, and brown sugar together in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring continuously until the ingredients transform into a smooth, slightly bubbling liquid.
- Remove the syrup from heat and enhance its flavor profile by incorporating vanilla extract and a pinch of salt, mixing until fully integrated.
- Pour the warm syrup over the dry ingredients, using a spatula to coat every morsel evenly, ensuring a consistent mixture.
- Allow the mixture to cool momentarily, then delicately fold in chocolate chips or preferred mix-ins to distribute them throughout the granola.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan, using firm, even pressure to compact the ingredients into a uniform layer that will hold together when sliced.
- Chill the pan in the refrigerator for at least one hour to allow the bars to set and solidify completely.
- Once set, lift the bars out using the parchment paper overhang and slice into desired portions using a sharp knife.
- Store the granola bars in an airtight container, keeping them at room temperature for up to a week or refrigerated for extended freshness.
Notes
- Press the mixture extremely firmly to ensure bars hold together perfectly, preventing crumbling during cutting or eating.
- Use quick-cooking oats for a softer texture or rolled oats for more chewiness and hearty bite.
- Customize mix-ins like dried fruits, nuts, or seeds to create unique flavor combinations and boost nutritional value.
- For gluten-free version, substitute rice cereal with gluten-free crispy rice or additional oats and use certified gluten-free oats.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Breakfast
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg