5.20.2010

easy-peasy granola bars

This granola bar recipe has been waiting in the wings for a few weeks since I first saw the recipe in a GOOP newsletter.  And this past week, I've made them three times.  Two of my sibs were here last weekend for the graduation celebration, along with lots of other friends and family, so chewy granola bars were perfect to have on hand.  This was the first "chewy" recipe I've found that I like, and it seems to be very versatile.
press in parchment-covered pan
add wet to dry


It calls for maple syrup AND brown rice syrup in the sweet category, but other than that, the rest of the ingredients are pretty standard.  This was my first time using brown rice syrup, and it seems to be the secret ingredient that makes a truly chewy homemade bar.  Corn syrup would likely work, too, but it would be much much sweeter tasting than the brown rice syrup.


wet ingredients


Without further adieu.....



Easy-Peasy Homemade Granola Bars
(adapted from GOOP newsletter ) 


1 1/3 cups quick-cooking (not instant) rolled oats, divided
a pinch each fine salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg and ground ginger {I used about 1/2 tsp. cinnamon + dash of cardamom, which is AMAZING in granola! a la nytimes}
1/4 cup flax seeds {I ground mine in a coffee grinder and then added a few more whole ones for texture}
1 cup dried apricots, roughly chopped (or any combination of roughly chopped dried fruit and/or nuts) {I used 1/4 c. sunflower seeds + 3/4 c. dried cranberries}
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup high quality maple syrup
2 tablespoons brown rice syrup (mine was Lundberg brand -- available at Whole Foods or lundberg.com)


Preheat the oven to 350ºF. In a 8” square baking pan, make a sling with parchment paper, letting some paper hang over the sides.
Grind 1/3 cup of the oats in a food processor until powdery {I skipped this the second time, and they turned out fine -- just fell apart a tiny bit more. In a large mixing bowl, add powdered oats to remaining oats, add the salt and spices, flax seeds, and fruit+nuts. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients and then stir them into the dry ingredients.


Turn the mixture out into prepared pan, smoothing the top with a rubber spatula or your hands. Bake for 30-33 minutes, or until evenly browned -- don't let them get too brown around the edges. Remove pan from oven and let cool for about 15 minutes, then move to a cutting board by pulling out the the parchment paper sling. Cut into individual granola bars -- makes about 8 bars.  


I wrapped ours individually in foil.  I can't attest to how long they might keep (longer in the fridge of course), because ours have all been eaten almost immediately!  Let me know if you try them...

2 comments:

  1. I cant even tell you how excited I am to make these puppies!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I cant even tell you how excited I am to make these puppies!

    ReplyDelete

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