How to Make Healthy Granola Bars

A simple and versatile recipe for quick, all-natural granola bars.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 3/4 cup wheat germ
• 2 cups whole almonds
• 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup honey
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup dried cherries (or more, as desired)
• 9" x 13" baking pan
• small glass or metal pan
• mixing bowl
• wooden spoon
• spatula
• aluminum foil

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine oats, wheat germ, and almonds in a small glass or metal pan. When oven is heated, toast the mixture for 10 minutes.

2. While oats and nuts are toasting, line the 9" x 13" pan with foil, allowing some to hang over on all sides. Combine sugar, honey, butter, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt in a medium saucepan. Heat on medium until butter and sugar are melted. Do not allow liquids to boil!

3. Remove oat mixture from oven, and turn the oven off. Remove sugar mixture from burner, and turn off the stove. Pour the oat mixture into a mixing bowl and cover with sugar mixture until combined. Add in the dried cherries and mix until evenly distributed.

4. Pour granola into 9" x 13" pan. Using a spatula, spread until granola makes an even layer. Let cool at room temperature for 3 hours. Cut into bars.

Tips & Warnings

• Bars will keep for up to one week when kept covered in pan or in Tupperware.
• This is a great recipe to experiment with! Try using maple syrup instead of honey, walnuts instead of almonds, and dried apples instead of cherries-or any other combination that sounds good to you!
• Allergic to nuts? Try substituting sunflower, pumpkin, or flax seeds.
• This recipe can also be crumbled to make traditional granola. Let cool in mixing bowl and crumble using a wooden spoon or your hands. Store in Tupperware or large plastic bag.