Chewy Granola Bars Make a Healthy Snack

When it comes to buying food, cereal and snack prices are on the rise. Even with coupons, it is harder than ever to find deals on healthy snacks like cereal and protein bars. This means if you are looking for healthy snack options that will leave extra money in your pocket, now is the time to start looking for simple, affordable snack bar recipes. 

As far as snacks are concerned, protein and cereal bars have never been more popular. However, many so-called healthy snack bars contain more than a few unhealthy ingredients.  Many popular name-brand cereal and protein bars not only contain high amounts of preservatives, they also contain unhealthy sweeteners like high-fructose corn syrup.

High fructose corn syrup is the most commonly added sweetener in processed foods. Although chemically similar to table sugar, the human body reacts much differently to high fructose corn syrup than it does other types of sugar.  Unlike table sugar containing 50 percent fructose and 50 percent glucose, high fructose corn syrup can contain up to 80 percent fructose and 20 percent glucose. This chemical imbalance has the potential of elevating cholesterol levels and causing problems with metabolism.

When made with high fructose corn syrup, many so-called healthy snack bars sold in stores contain the same amount of sugar as candy bars. Even worse, on a per-pound basis, a single box of granola or protein bars can cost even more than an expensive cut of meat. For example, a box of name-brand granola bars can cost you up to $6 per pound depending on where you shop.

For a healthy back-to-school snack that can be made on the cheap, you’ll want to try the recipe below for Chewy Granola Bars. Rather than being sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, the bars below are sweetened with honey and molasses.  These natural sweeteners act as the “glue” for holding high-fiber ingredients in the form of dried fruit, nuts, and old fashioned rolled oats.

When it comes to choosing between quick and old fashioned oats in recipes, the difference between the two lies in how each is cut. Both undergo the same amount of processing and contain the whole oat grain consisting of the brain, endosperm, and germ. However, quick oats are cut into slightly smaller pieces allowing them to cook faster. Although both types will create a delicious granola bar containing the same amount of fiber, I like the resulting chewy texture of granola bars made with the larger old fashioned oats.

Along with old fashioned oats, the Chewy Granola Bar recipe below calls for a variety of fruits and nuts. For the bars featured in the photo to the left, I included almonds, dark chocolate pieces, and pistachios along with dried cranberries, cherries, and blueberries.  However, any combination of dried fruits, nuts, or chocolate like peanuts, raisins, and mini-chocolate chips can be substituted, creating a granola bar that is just as chewy and delicious.

Since this recipe below calls for baking the granola mixture, it is important to allow the mixture to cool completely before slicing.  By doing so, you won’t have the resulting problem of the granola mixture crumbling into pieces when cut into bars. Not only does the cooling process allow time for the “glue” in the form of molasses and honey to set completely, it results in a chewier granola bar.

Before you hit the snack isle the next time you go shopping, walk down the baking isle first and stock up on some key ingredients for creating some easy-to-make snack bars that are a whole lot healthier than the store-bought kind. Not only will you save a few bucks, I can guarantee you’ll enjoy the fresh taste and texture of your homemade high-fiber bars. 

Chewy Granola Bars 

1 2/3 cups old fashioned oats

1/3 cup oat flour

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon cinnamon

3 cups dried fruits, nuts, and/or dark chocolate pieces

¾ cup honey

1/3 cup creamy natural peanut or almond butter

6 Tablespoons butter, melted and cooled to lukewarm temperature

2 Tablespoons blackstrap or regular molasses

1 Tablespoon water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Line 8 or 9 inch square baking pan with perpendicular sheets of parchment paper, allowing it to go up and over the sides.
2. In medium size bowl, stir together oats, flour, salt, and cinnamon. Mix in dried fruit, nuts, and/or dark chocolate pieces. Stir in honey, peanut butter, butter, molasses, water, and vanilla until dry ingredients are completely incorporated.
3. Spread in prepared pan, pressing mixture firmly onto bottom of pan using a kitchen tool like a potato masher.
4. Bake bars for 35 to 40 minutes, just until edges begin to brown. Cool granola mixture completely in pan. Once cool, remove granola mixture to cutting board using parchment paper as handles. Cut into bars and store in airtight container.

Kitchen Tip: For a delicious tasting natural peanut butter, I like using Trader Joe’s natural peanut butter that can be bought for under $2 per 16 ounce jar.