How do I Make Whole Wheat Snack Bars?

Wheat grain becomes the basis for healthy whole wheat snack bars.

Add nutrition to your snacks by replacing the refined white flour in your snack bar recipe with whole wheat. The whole wheat flour imparts a heartier texture and full flavor to any snack bar recipe. Opt for these bar alternatives over potato chips or cookies for a better tasting, healthier snack. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Things You'll Need

• 9-by-13-inch baking pan
• Parchment paper
• 1 ½ cups whole wheat pastry flour
• ½ tsp. baking soda
• ½ tsp. baking powder
• ½ tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup molasses
• ¼ cup butter, softened
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp. crystallized ginger, chopped (optional)
• 1 cup blueberries, washed (fresh or frozen)

Instructions

1. Line the baking pan on the bottom and sides with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Combine the whole wheat pastry flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a bowl.

3. Beat together in a separate bowl with a mixer the brown sugar, molasses and butter until fluffy.

4. Add the egg and vanilla to the sugar and butter mixture and continue to beat on medium speed until thoroughly combined.

5. Stir the flour mixture into the sugar and butter mixture until the dry ingredients have been completely moistened.

6. Fold in the crystallized ginger and blueberries into the snack bar batter.

7. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a skewer comes out of the center cleanly, without crumbs, when inserted.

8. Let cool completely in the pan before cutting into 12 snack bars.

Tips & Warnings

• Substitute any fruit for the blueberries, if desired.

References

• Eating Well: Whole Wheat Blueberry Bars
• All Recipes: Ginger Bars
• Ellen's Kitchen: Bars of Iron