Homemade Granola Bars Recipe for Summer On-the-Go

I struggle with breakfasts, but it's not because I don't love breakfast foods.  However, getting four kids ready and out the door for school or camp or off to sports combined with my at-home work schedule just doesn't create a lot of free time in the morning to spend cooking and preparing breakfast (even though I would love to).  Instead, breakfast for us usually consists of things like granola, cereals, yogurt, granola bars and toast that take just minutes to get on the table.

 

These granola bars are easy to whip up any time.  They take minutes to assemble and are packed with nutrient-dense food that will keep the kids going all day long.  We make ours with ground flax, coconut, raw pepitas and honey.  We can change the flavors easily by adding spices and a few other mix-in ingredients, and I've found that the granola bars store easily and remain chewy throughout the week, making it easy for little mouths to chomp down on.

 

Chewy Homemade Granola Bars

 

2 cups rolled oats

1/4 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup pepitas or other nuts/seeds

1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins

3 tablespoons ground flax

3 tablespoons toasted wheat germ

1/4 cup oil (canola, coconut, etc.)

1/2 cup honey

 

Heat oven to 350º F.  Mix together oats, flour, nuts, coconut, dried fruit, flax and wheat germ.  Stir in oil and mix until well coated, and then stir in the honey until evenly distributed. 

 

Press into a parchment-lined 8"x8" pan.  Bake at 350º F for 30 - 35 minutes until slightly brown on top.  Allow to cool completely.  Cut into bars.  Store in an airtight container until ready to eat.

 

Makes 15 bars.

 

 

Variations (stir in with dry ingredients):

 

Pumpkin Spice:

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip:

Omit dried fruit and nuts. 

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup chocolate chips

 

Vanilla Almond:

1 teaspoon of vanilla

1 cup almonds in place of pepitas

1/2 cup white chips in place of the dried fruit

 

Create your own combination to suit your tastes!