A friend, who I believe is also my most loyal blog reader, recently suggested I write a post about making your own healthy granola bars. A good idea, as the majority of pre-packaged granola bars available in grocery stores tend to be candy bars masquerading as health food.

I adapted this recipe from dinutrition and posted it on my glipho blog a while back:

Ingredients:

2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick oats)

1 cup whole wheat flour (or a gluten-free flour)

1/2 cup ground flax seeds

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup cacao nibs

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/2 crystallized ginger, finely chopped

2 tbsp brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1/3 cup honey

1 egg beaten

1/4 cup canola oil

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

2 tsp vanilla

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350ºF (170ºC) and lightly grease a 9X13 ” baking ban (or line it with parchment paper). In a large bowl, stir together the oats, flour, seeds, chocolate, cranberries, ginger, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. In a small bowl, combine the honey, egg, canola oil, apple sauce and vanilla.  Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and mix well. Press evenly into the baking pan and bake for 25 minutes (the edges will be golden brown). Allow to cool before cutting into bars.

Makes 18 bars.

The thing I like best about them is that they’re crunchy and sweet but not overly so. Not like those sticky chewy store bought bars.

She suggested this recipe for no-bake energy balls and advised mixing in the coconut to save time and effort.

You might also want to check out this website for home made Lara Bars.