Best Thick Chewy Granola Bars Recipes

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HEALTHY THICK CHEWY GRANOLA BARS



Healthy Thick Chewy Granola Bars image

This was adapted from King Arthur Flour, however I tried to use healthier ingredients. I love this recipe as it is extreamly easy and flexible. This is a basic granola bar that you can add anything to. I try to make this weekly as a quick on the go breakfest or a healthy snack during the day. I've double the recipe and keep extras in the freezer.

Provided by sawanybird

Categories     Breakfast

Time 45m

Yield 6 bars, 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 2/3 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
1/3 cup brown sugar (use more for a sweetness if you want it like store bought bars)
1/3 cup oat flour (or 1/3 cup oats, processed till finely ground in a food processor or blender)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
2 -3 cups dried fruits (* aprox 10 to 15 ounces) or 2 -3 cups nuts (* aprox 10 to 15 ounces)
1/3 cup peanut butter (I use almond butter) or 1/3 cup another nut butter (I use almond butter)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
6 tablespoons butter (melted) or 6 tablespoons margarine (melted)
1/4 cup molasses
2 tablespoons agave syrup (you can use light corn syrup if you do not have agave)
1 tablespoon water

Steps:

  • Pre heat oven to 350°F Line an 8"x8"x2" pan with parchment paper. Lightly grease the parchment paper and the exposed pan or coat with a non-stick spray.
  • Stir together all the dry ingredients, including the fruit and nuts. In a separate bowl, whisk together the vanilla, melted butter or margarine, liquid sweeteners, water, and nut butter until smooth. Toss the wet incredients witht eh dry until the mixture is evenly curmbly. Spread in the prepared pan, pressing them in firmly.
  • Bake the bars for 28-35 minutes, until they're lightly browned on the edges. They will still sem soft and underbaked when you press the centre. Let cool fully before cutting in to squares with the serrated knife. I sometimes put them in the freezer befor cutting so the cut smoothly.
  • Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator or in the freezer.
  • *My favorite add ins are dried cherries, chocolate chips, pecans and seasme seeds. However you can add dried cranberries, apricots, apples, pears, walnuts, pistachios, sunflower seeds, coconut, or any other dried fruit or nuts. I sometimes even add protien powder or dried greens.

THICK AND CHEWY GRANOLA BARS



Thick and Chewy Granola Bars image

I found this recipe on one of my favorite food blog sites - SmittenKitchen.com. Deb has the best recipes and stories, and not necessarily in that order! These granola bars are wonderful because you can make them with what you want. I have not had any crumbling issues and I never make them with the same fruit and nuts twice. You can make oat flour by processing rolled oats until finely ground in a food processor. I always use almond butter and I also double the recipe - they are very popular in our house!

Provided by JulieCHopp

Categories     Breakfast

Time 1h

Yield 16 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 2/3 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup oat flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 cups nuts, and dried fruit mix
1/3 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 tablespoon water

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8 x 8 pan in one direction with parchment paper. Lightly grease paper and exposed pan with non-stick spray.
  • Stir together all of the dry ingredients, including the fruit and nuts. In a separate bowl, whisk the vanilla, melted butter, liquid sweeteners, nut butter and water. Toss the wet ingredients with the dry until the mixture is evenly crumbly. Spread in the prepared pan, pressing firmly to ensure they are molded to the shape of the pan.
  • Bake the bars for 30 - 40 minutes, until they are brown around the edges, the top will brown a little as well. They may seem soft and almost underbaked when you press into the center but they will set up once completely cool.
  • Cool the bars in their pan completely on a cooling rack. Once completely cool you can cut them with a serrated knife into single servings. If they seem too crumbly then put into the fridge to cool further. Wrap individually or store in an airtight containter. They freeze well.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 312, Fat 20.9, SaturatedFat 5.2, Cholesterol 11.4, Sodium 302.4, Carbohydrate 27.8, Fiber 3.7, Sugar 13.2, Protein 7.5

THICK, CHEWY GRANOLA BARS



THICK, CHEWY GRANOLA BARS image

Yield 20 bars

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 2/3 cups quick rolled oats
1/2 to 3/4 cup granulated sugar (use more for a sweetness akin to most purchased bars; use less for a mildly sweet bar)
1/3 cup oat flour (or 1/3 cup oats, processed till finely ground in a food processor or blender)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 to 3 cups dried fruits and nuts (total of 10 to 15 ounces)*
1/3 cup peanut butter or another nut butter (I used almond butter) (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional, namely because I was not convinced that the flavor came through)
6 tablespoons melted butter
1/4 cup honey, maple syrup or corn syrup
2 tablespoons light corn syrup (see Note above)
1 tablespoon water

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8″ x 8″ x 2″ pan in one direction with parchment paper, allowing it to go up the opposing sides. Lightly grease the parchment paper and the exposed pan, or coat with a non-stick spray. Stir together all the dry ingredients, including the fruit and nuts. In a separate bowl, whisk together the vanilla, melted butter or oil, syrup or honey, and water. Toss the wet ingredients with the dry until the mixture is evenly crumbly. Spread in the prepared pan, shaking the pan to evenly cover the bottom and patting down gently Bake the bars for 30 to 40 minutes, until they're brown around the edges - don't be afraid to get a little color on them. They'll still seem soft and almost underbaked in the center when you take them out but do not worry, they'll set completely once they cool. Cool the bars in their pan completely on a cooling rack. (Alternately, after about 20 minutes you can use your parchment "sling" to lift and remove the bars, and place them in their paper on the rack to cool the rest of the way.) Once cool, a serrated knife (or bench knife) to cut the bars into squares. To store, wrap the bars individually in plastic or stack them in an airtight container. In humid weather, it's best to store bars in the refrigerator. They also freeze well. *Suggestions: Dried cranberries, apricots, pecans, sunflower seeds, coconut, walnuts, sesame seeds, pepitas, dried pples or even chocolate chips. My mix: 1/2 cup wheat germ, 1 cup dried cherries, 1 cup walnuts, 1/2 cup pecans and 1/2 cup dried unsweetened coconut flakes. Because my pieces were all pretty coarse, I pulsed them in the food processor a few times to break it up a little, though this isn't necessary if you don't mind yours chunkier.

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