Yummy Homemade Granola Bars

I've never really liked the choice of granola bars available at the supermarkets...I think some are just too sweet and the combination of ingredients..hmm...some of it I like...some I don't like..and by the way...they can be very pricey! I like the ones that taste chewy and crisp at the same time..but some of the ones that come in packets are kinda soft and somehow the taste of packed oats that are not crisp..tends to taste a little pasty ..hmm..not really my thing I guess.To find the right granola bar for me is quite a task..so i gave up. Haven't had a granola bar for 5 years...hahha..but suddenly I came across a recipe on footnetwork.com by barefoot contessa and i decided to give it a whirl!

I did make some adjustments as I read the reviews and made a conclusion that it might be too sweet for my husband. He doesn't like things too sweet :) Anyways...me too! All I can say about this recipe is "thumbs up!". A great basic granola recipe that we all can work on and tweek to our own liking. You don't have to follow the recipe to the T....but if you like the ingredients in the original recipe, go ahead and give it a try. I think these will keep well in an airtight container for many many days (if they ever last that long).

Homemade Granola Bars (original recipe)
Source: Barefoot Contessa

Ingredients

• 2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal
• 1 cup sliced almonds
• 1 cup shredded coconut, loosely packed
• 1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2/3 cup honey
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup chopped pitted dates
• 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots 
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries

• Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 8 by 12-inch baking dish and line it with parchment paper.

Toss the oatmeal, almonds, and coconut together on a sheet pan and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl and stir in the wheat germ.

Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F.

Place the butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook and stir for a minute, then pour over the toasted oatmeal mixture. Add the dates, apricots, and cranberries and stir well.

Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Wet your fingers and lightly press the mixture evenly into the pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until light golden brown. Cool for at least 2 to 3 hours before cutting into squares. Serve at room temperature.

My Version of Homemade Granola Bars
(based on the above recipe but tweeked to my liking)

• 1 cup old-fashioned oatmeal (toasted)
• 1 cup (heaped) rice krispies
• 1/2 cup toasted coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 1/2 cup dessicated coconut (toasted)
• 1/2 cup nestum/ cereal
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/3 cup corn syrup
• 1/4 cup muscovado 
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup sesame seed (toasted)
• a handful of flaxseed (don't need to toast)
• 1/2 cup (heaped) dried cranberries
• a handful of cashewnuts (toasted)
• a handful of walnuts (toasted)

• Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 8 by 12-inch baking dish and line it with parchment paper.

Toss the oatmeal, almonds,cashewnuts,walnuts, sesame and coconut together on a sheet pan and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl and stir in the nestum/cereal.

Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F.

Place the butter, honey, corn syrup, muscovado sugar, vanilla, and salt in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook and stir for a minute, then pour over the toasted oatmeal mixture. Add the falxseed, toasted coconut flakes and cranberries and stir well.

Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Wet your fingers and lightly press the mixture evenly into the pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until light golden brown. Cool for at least 2 to 3 hours before cutting into squares. Serve at room temperature. (I baked it for 30 mins for a crispy crunchy granola bar...you can bake it for less if you want them more chewy)

optional ingredients:
chocolate chips, bittersweet choc chips, raisin, apricots, dates, dried apples, figs, hazelnuts, almond slivers, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, cornflakes, and oh sooooo many more!