Hello Friends!
Yesterday, I did try to write you all about these granola bars but the WordPress website was protesting some anti-piracy bill thereby causing every WordPress article to be blacked out and read “Censored”.
Personally, I didn’t care for this at all because it gave the idea that everything one writes about is illicit and inappropriate.
I do want to assure you, Dear Reader, that every effort has been made to keep this Granola Bar article as clean as possible.
Granola bars have to be some of my favorite snack food, maybe my most favorite, but in truth we have always had a complicated relationship. I admire, obsess, plot and plan; the Granola overcooks, hardens, and crumbles. Rebellious is the word that most comes to mind when I think of making Granola Bars because when I ask them to stay together they, quite rebelliously, will themselves to fall apart. I confess I do not know just what granola has against being in bar form.
However, I do know that I have something very much against commercial Granola Bars, not only are they expensive and positively soaked in high fructose corn syrup (wait a minute…so that’s how you keep them together…soak them in chemical laden sugar water!) but they also don’t taste very good. It has been a dilemma of mine for sometime.
So, I decided to go back to the drawing board and the ever obliging internet was chock full of information on the subject.
Okay, so through my research I have come to find out that the first rule of Granola Bars is that we do not use regular oats. And that the second rule of Granola Bars is that we do not use regular oats. We always use quick oats, instead. If you don’t, the bars will instantly crumble into a delicious pile on the counter when you cut them and then, like me, you will be sorry. My understanding is that you can use regular oats if you whiz them around in the food processor a couple of times to break them up a bit, which will help them stick together more. But why waste your time? Since most of us have access to quick oats, my advice would be to use them.
Quick Oats...don't forget!
Okay, here’s the recipe, adapted from Another Lunch:Chocolate Chip Granola Bites
(Will Probably)Stay Together Granola Bars
- 2 1/2 C. quick oats
- 1/2 C. semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 C. brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 C. canola oil
- 1/4 C. honey
- 3 T creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla
Combine all the ingredients, except the chocolate chips and mix until they are very well combined and look a bit crumbly. If the mixture is too dry at this point you can add a bit more oil or honey. Then, mix in chocolate chips and press mixture into a well greased 8×8 pan. I did what the author suggested and used a bit a parchment paper so I could get the bars out easily and I would highly recommend it so after you spray the pan, cut a piece of parchment paper big enough to cover the bottom of pan, up the sides, and to stick out a bit from the top so you can use it like handles to help loosen the bars. Now press the mixture into the pan and bake at 350 degrees for about 21 minutes. Bars should just be starting to look a bit golden on the top.
The next step is to leave them overnight. Really. I read this and thought it was a joke but it was not. If you don’t they will crumble into a delicious pile on the counter. If you do, they will stay together in the shape of bars. Like this…
Cut into bars using a long knife and store in airtight container or ziploc bag.
Or, you can wrap them in wax paper and seal them with a sticker or with tape and a ribbon…the kids LOVED this!
These ARE the droids you're looking for!
Enjoy…
Sour Potatoes 