Basic Granola Bar
Lunchbox prep made easy
With 6 delicious variations these basic granola bars are a satisfyingly simple way to fill the kiddies lunchboxes. Not to mention you'll be sorted for a week with their simple storage needs.
Ingredients
- 3 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup crispy brown rice cereal
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 cups ‘mixture’
- 2/3 cup brown rice syrup or corn syrup
- 1/2 cup Nut or Seed Butter
- 1 tsp ‘flavoring'
'Flavour': you choose
- Coconut extract
- Vanilla extract
- Ground cardamom
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground ginger
Cranberry - Almond Granola Bars 'Mixture'
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup each almonds and pecans
- 1/2 cup smooth almond butter
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Banana - Peanut Granola Bars 'Mixture'
- 1 cup chopped dried banana
- 1/2 cup each macadamia nuts and unsalted peanuts
- 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1 tsp. ground ginger
Apricot - Sunflower Granola Bars 'Mixture'
- 1 cup chopped dried apricots
- 1/2 cup each unsalted pepitas and sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup smooth sunflower butter
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
Date - Pistachio Granola Bars 'Mixture'
- 1 cup chopped pitted dates
- 1/2 cup each chopped hazelnuts and chopped unsalted pistachios
- 1/2 cup tahini
- 1 tsp. ground cardamom
Blueberry - Cashew Granola Bars 'Mixture'
- 1 cup dried blueberries
- 1/2 cup chopped unsalted cashews and flaxseed
- 1/2 cup smooth cashew butter
- 1 tsp. coconut extract
Cherry - Chocolate Chip Granola Bars 'Mixture'
- 1 cup chopped dried cherries
- 1/3 cup each chopped unsalted almonds, mini chocolate chips and unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup almond butter
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Method
- Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Line a 9-inch square baking dish with parchment.
- Combine 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats, 1 cup crispy brown rice cereal and 1/4 teaspoon salt with 2 cups total of a ‘mixture’ of your choosing in a large bowl.
- Then combine 2/3 cup brown rice syrup, 1/2 cup Nut or Seed Butter and 1 teaspoon ‘flavoring’ in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds (or heat in a saucepan over medium heat for 1 minute). Add to the dry ingredients and stir until evenly combined. Transfer to the prepared baking dish and firmly press into the baking dish with a spatula.
- Whether you choose chewy or crunchy granola bars, both will be soft when they come out of the oven but will firm up as they cool.
- For chewy granola bars: Bake until barely starting to color around the edges and still soft in the middle, 20 to 25 minutes.
- For crunchy granola bars: Bake until golden brown around the edges and somewhat firm in the middle, 30 to 35 minutes.
- Let cool in the dish for 10 minutes. Using the overhanging parchment, lift the bars out of the baking dish onto a cutting board (they will still be soft). Cut into 24 bars and let cool completely without separating the bars, about 30 minutes. Once cool, separate into bars.
Handy Tips
To make ahead: Individually wrap and store at room temperature for up to 1 week.
