Quick Granola Bars

I seem to have a problem staying focused lately. I can compare my thoughts and actions to a pinball game and I’m the ball. Some might call it multi-tasking but is it really advantageous and does it save you time so you can enjoy other, more important things such as spending time with the family? Food for thought.


And now that I am talking about food, well, I made my Q recipe. Yep, back on track for a little while. It has been so long since I worked on my baking project. Mind you, that doesn’t mean I haven’t been baking. I made sugar cookies Tuesday night and then a chocolate cake followed by a second chocolate batter from which I made cupcakes and vanilla frosting Wednesday night. I have also been using my newly purchasing ice cream maker. Two batches of vanilla for my little man (others help him eat it) and a batch of cheesecake ice cream for my little woman (let’s say rich, creamy and soooo delicious).

This recipe had a nice flavor but it is not a keeper. The bars crumble A LOT so out it goes. Olivia crumbled her bars into yogurt and ate it that way. Creativity – I like that. So if you want to try this recipe, here it is. Perhaps you bars won’t crumble! And no, I did not take pictures of these imperfect bars. I should have though so you could see how crumbly they were. Disappointed but another recipe’s fate has been determined.
Quick Granola Bars

4 ½ cups rolled oats
1 cup flour (I used whole wheat)
1 cup butter, softened
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup honey
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
2 cups add-ins
Add-in options: mini-chocolate chips, raisins, sunflower seeds, coconut flakes, chopped dried apricots, dried cranberries, nuts.

Lightly butter a 9x13-inch pan and preheat the oven to 325F.

Combine the butter and honey in a large bowl and mix well. Add all ingredients except the add-ins and mix until combined. By hand, stir in the add-ins.

Press mixture into the pan. Mixture will be sticky so you can wet your hands with water and press the mixture firmly. (Is this why they were crumbly???)

Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. They won’t look done but will firm up while they cool. After they cool for about 10 minutes, cut into bars. Store at room temperature.

I’ll keep looking for a good granola bar recipe because I really want to stop buying and feeding the kids the processed bars that are full of bad ingredients – lots of sugar, fillers and preservatives that are damaging to their bodies.