Super Simple Granola Bars
Fast, Easy, Cheap, Nutritious & Delicious
These granola bars manage to hit all five.
Granola Bars are a deliciously healthy snack that are super simple to make and easy to customize. Gluten Free, containing protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals, and with a low Glycemic Index. They are one of the underrated snacks of the world and, quite frankly, a lot of fun to make.
Too often, when we think of granola bars we image the stale cardboard tasting lump that’s been forgotten in a glove compartment or lunch box for a few months at a time, but that doesn’t need to be the case. There are just some things in life that are just so much better when made yourself.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups Rolled Oats (about 8 ounces)
- 1 can condensed milk (14 ounce tin)
- 1 to 2 cups filling of your choice.
Yes, it really is that simple.
How to Make Easy Delicious Granola Bars…
Step One. Preheat your oven to 350 F and line an 8 x 8-inch baking tray with nonstick spray and greaseproof paper.
Step Two. Combine your oats with your condensed milk. *Pro Tip – optional addition of a pinch of salt or 2 tbsp of melted butter at this stage.
Step Three. Let your gooey oat mix relax on the side while you consider your fillings. Pretty much any kind of nuts, seeds, dried fruit, fruit zest, spices (cinnamon, nutmeg), or chocolate chips is fair game. Nut butter (peanut, almond) is also a great addition, but no more than half a cup or the bars will be dense and tough. Some of my favorite flavor combinations are;
Chop up your fillings so that everything is roughly the same size and combine in with your gooey oat mix and give it a taste. There are no raw eggs in this, so it is perfectly safe to test and see if you like the flavors. Add in any additional spices (cinnamon, cardamom, zest, instant coffee, salt) and give it a mix before trying again.
Step Four: If you are happy with your flavors lay it all out in the pan. Pat the mix down lightly just so that it’s all roughly the same thickness. Bake for roughly 30 minutes.
If you chose wet fillings you may need to drop the oven temperature and bake for a little longer- 320 degrees for 45 minutes.
Step Five: When your oat mix no longer looks wet in the center, remove from the oven, and use the greaseproof paper to pull out of the baking tray. Set it aside on a wire rack to cool for 30 minutes before cutting into roughly equal bars.
These will last for about ten days to two weeks in the fridge or up to six months in the freezer. This recipe makes about 12 bars (depending on how you cut them) but don’t be afraid to play around with the quantity or flavor combinations! Because these mixtures don’t really spread, if you don’t have wet fillings you can actually layer up multiple varieties in the same tray- just don’t lose track of which ones are which!
So they next time you are looking for a healthy snack to add to your repertoire, or the kids are moaning about something to do, or you just want to fire up the oven, give this recipe a try! I guarantee, you won’t be disappointed if you do.
The Best Recipes in the World
… use less than seven ingredients, are easy to personalize, and require no precise measurements.
There are a handful of recipes like this out there in the world that I feel everyone should know. They are the types of things that build your comfort in the kitchen, introduce new skills, and get you excited about cooking. These are the recipes I love, and they are the recipes I share.
I hope you’ll love them too.
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