Master Granola Bar Recipe
Ingredients
Nuts (almonds, pecans, cashews—chopped or ground into flour)
Bulk (oats (rolled, quick, flour) + puffed rice cereal)
Sugars (light brown sugar, granulated sugar, molasses, coconut palm sugar, honey, pure maple syrup)
Mix-ins (coconut flakes, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, small dried fruit like raisins, chocolate chips)
Fat (virgin coconut oil (melted), neutral vegetable oil, butter (melted))
Kosher salt
Warm Spices (ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg)
Vanilla extract
Egg
Instructions
For Crunchy Granola Bars, combine 1 cup finely ground nuts, 1/2 cup granulated sugar (coconut palm sugar, light brown sugar and/or white granulated sugar), 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats, 2 cups puffed rice cereal in a bowl and mix. Add 1/4 cup honey, 5 tablespoons oil, a bit of kosher salt and as much pure vanilla extract as you like. Press firmly into a lined quarter sheet pan and bake at 325°F for about 25 minutes. Allow to cool before slicing into bars. For full, detailed instructions, see this post for crunchy granola bars.
For Chewy Granola Bars, combine 1 3/4 cups quick oats, 1 cup oat flour, 3/4 cup granulated sugar (coconut palm sugar, light brown sugar and/or white granulated sugar), 16 ounces nuts and/or other mix-ins in a bowl and mix. Add 8 tablespoons melted butter,
1 egg, a bit of kosher salt and as much pure vanilla extract and ground cinnamon as you like. Press into a lined 8-inch or 9-inch square baking pan, and bake at 325°F for about 25 minutes. Allow to cool before slicing into bars. For full, detailed instructions, see this post for chewy granola bars.For No Bake Granola Bars, combine 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats, 1/2 cup oat flour, 2 cups puffed rice cereal, 1/2 cup coconut chips or other mix-ins (including nuts, if you like) into a bowl and mix. In a small saucepan, place the 1 cup granulated sugar (coconut palm sugar, light brown sugar and/or white granulated sugar), 1/2 cup honey and 1/4 cup oil (virgin coconut oil or neutral oil) and mix. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and continue to cook undisturbed for 45 seconds. Remove from the heat, add a bit of kosher salt and as much pure vanilla extract as you like. Allow to cool until not burning hot to the touch, then pour into the bowl of dry ingredients. Mix to combine and press into an 8-inch or 9-inch square baking pan. Allow to cool completely before slicing into bars. For full, detailed instructions, see this post for no bake granola bars.