Grab-and-Go Granola Bars

Over the years, I’ve created a lot of recipes, but one of the toughest to nail was my Grab-and-Go Granola Bars. It took about 10 tries to get it just right, because a lot of homemade granola bars are too dry, so they crumble when you try to eat them, and some are just too sweet.

This recipe for healthy homemade granola bars is made with walnuts, dried fruit — choose from dried plums/prunes, raisins, cherries, apricots, and/or cranberries — oats, whole grain cereal, and eggs, and it’s sweetened naturally with honey. It works like a charm every time.

I’ve probably made this recipe a few dozen times over the years. Josh and Simon ate them for on-the-go breakfasts, after-school snacks, and a healthy pick-me-up during long bike rides and summer hikes. I’ve even made them for holiday cookie swaps too. So I guess you could call them really versatile!

One batch lasts about a day in my house, but if you happen to have leftovers, you can wrap individual portions in plastic baggies or aluminum foil and freeze for later.

Grab-and-Go Granola Bars

Nutrition Information

• Serves: 12

• Serving size: (1 bar)
• Calories: 200

• Fat: 9g
• Saturated fat: 1.5g
• Carbohydrates: 30g
• Sodium: 115mg
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 4g

Recipe type: Breakfast or Snack

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I love the flexibility of this recipe. You can use any nut -- pecans, almonds, walnuts -- and the same goes for the dried fruit. Just about anything goes.

Ingredients

• 1 cup quick cooking or old fashioned oats
• 1 cup spoon-size shredded wheat cereal
• 1 cup walnuts
• 1½ cups dried fruit (choose one or more of the following: dried plums/prunes, raisins, cherries, apricots, cranberries)
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• ¼ cup honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly oil or coat an 8 x 8-inch baking pan or dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
2. Place the oats, shredded wheat, walnuts, dried fruit, cinnamon, and salt in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until the mixture is finely chopped (the fruit should be the size of a dried pea or lentil).
3. Whisk together the eggs, honey, and vanilla in a large bowl until well combined. Add the oat mixture and chocolate chips and stir to combine.
4. Spread the mixture evenly in the prepared pan, and flatten gently with the back of a spoon or rubber spatula.
5. Bake about 18 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown. Let cool completely in the pan before slicing into twelve 2 x 2½- inch bars.

3.5.3226