Since our household consists of two working parents and two young kids we are constantly grabbing something to eat as we head out the door. I try to make sure that the choices we have in our house are the healthiest possible, but reading some of those labels can be a scary proposition. Granola bars seem like a good choice, but there are so many additives and preservatives needed to make those types of foods shelf-stable that it makes my head swim. And then there’s the unnecessarily high amount of sodium and sugar to take into account.
I’ve seen recipe after recipe for homemade granola bars and wanted to try making them myself for months. When I stumbled across some wonderful locally harvested honey a few weeks ago at a nearby market I was finally inspired enough to give the granola bars a whirl. Surprisingly everything I’d read about homemade granola bars was true – they really and truly are easy, and remarkably delicious. It’s a super simple one bowl operation, just a few stirs, spread them out in the pan, then into the oven. I’ve already made several batches of them – they’ve become a staple in our house. They’re filled with such nutritious ingredients that I never say no when the kids ask for a second one. I just pat myself on the back and hand it over to them. Seriously, if you’d told me that I could get my children to beg for something I made from oats, wheat germ, whole wheat flour, and flaxseed meal I would have never, ever believed you. But that’s exactly what happened. And each time we polish off a batch of these my husband asks if I’m planning to make some more. I love it! And I love these bars! Even if you don’t care about the nutritional value, you will love these addicting little bars. You should make some soon!
You may also like:
these are on my must try soon list..thanks for sharing
I have a granola bar recipe from another blog I love too if you want to try that out – chocolate chips are involved 
http://sisterscafe.blogspot.com/2009/11/homemade-chewy-granola-bars.html
Those look great! I've been thinking about adding coconut to these but I think my kids might resist – maybe I'll make a batch just for me. Thanks!
I have a dairy/egg allergic child so I made them substituting 1/4 applesauce for the egg and they had a nice slightly chewy texture and tasted great!
Just made these with my four year old and they turned out great. We added 1/2 cup of chocolate chips.
One of my friends introduced me to these and I’m SO glad she did! My family loves them so much. Thanks for sharing great recipes that are healthy, too. I also wanted to say hello as a neighbor in a nearby city and a fellow Alabama blogger!
These look tasty. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Hi! I made these for the first time over the weekend and my entire family loves them!! Even my picky 4 year old gobbled them up. Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe!
Oh hello, Bethy, lol! I’m the friend she mentions in her comment, and I’m just now getting around to tell you that my family is addicted to these granola bars! I’ve told everyone and their second cousin about this recipe and they’re a huge hit every time! Thank you so much for sharing. I’m a big fan of your blog!
Hi! Great article. Thanks so much for posting. I want to try cooking like this and was wondering how long would the granola bars stay good for? Can I freeze them? I’m sort of new to cooking. Thanks!!
Hi Jamie – I always get a little extra excited when someone tells me they are trying to cook more meals at home. Yay for you! These granola bars are perfect for someone new to cooking, they will build confidence in your abilities in no time. I usually have these bars hanging around for 5 or 6 days in an airtight container, and yes, they are totally freezable. Just stick them in a freezer bag or other airtight container.
Can I use steel cut oats?
You sure can!
What do you think about using wheat bran instead of wheat germ? I am having a hard time finding wheat germ in my last two grocery store runs but have what bran already in the pantry…
I say it’s a good bet! I’ve never tried it but my guess is the flavor and texture should be similar enough to give it a try. Let me know how it turns out!