Homemade granola bars

LadySavage

I love granola bars, but can very much do without all that excess sugar, thank you very much-- so I began hunting down a good granola bar recipe and came across this one. Thought I'd share =]

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/granola-bars-recipe/index.html

sdwelk11

gonna try it! Thanks alot!

OneMission

Thank you for searching & sharing!!!

bksteve26

bump!

rlsluvr

bump

twonabunny

A friend of mine told me about Agave Nectar. I replaced my sugar with it. I am pre-diabetic and this stuff is 25% sweeter than sugar so you use much less and your body can process it better than sugar. I haven't made any granola bars with it yet, but it may be worth a try. Most grocery stores sell it in the sugar aisle.

MirandaJayne

Bump

blakgarnet

anyone figure out the nutritional info yet?

LadySavage

yw everyone =]
i haven't found nutritional info yet, i was hunting for that, actually. i figured even if you don't want to use the honey or salt and leave it completely natural it's still tons better than store bought stuff. besides which, we can all do without preservatives

LadySavage

A friend of mine told me about Agave Nectar. I replaced my sugar with it. I am pre-diabetic and this stuff is 25% sweeter than sugar so you use much less and your body can process it better than sugar. I haven't made any granola bars with it yet, but it may be worth a try. Most grocery stores sell it in the sugar aisle.

i've never heard of this; have you bought it yet? what store did you find it at?

NaeNae50

I found Alton Browns recipe last weekend. I left out the brown sugar and added just a touch more honey. Also added dried unsweetened cranberries and sunflower seeds.

jessmomof3

Here is my favorite homemade granola bar recipe. My family LOVES them!

My recipe... (I used whole wheat, less sugar and honey, more spice, less oil, and added applesauce and PB and omitted the raisins. You could also add some chocolate chips, nuts, or other dried fruit.)

Here's the link to the original recipe and I *tweaked* it to lower the cals and sugar.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Playgroup-Granola-Bars/Detail.aspx


Jess's Homemade Playgroup Granola Bars (listed in MFP database)

2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup wheat germ
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (optional)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup applesauce
1/4 cup natural chunky peanut butter (optional)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract


Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Generously grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, mix together the oats, flour, brown sugar, wheat germ, spices, and salt. In medium bowl, mix together the honey, egg, oil, applesauce, PB and vanilla. Make a well in center of dry ingredients. Stir well or mix well using your hands. Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared pan. (I layered the pan w/ foil and sprayed Pam on a spatula to pack it down)

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until the bars begin to turn golden at the edges. Cool for 5 minutes, then cut into bars while still warm. Do not allow the bars to cool completely before cutting, or they will be too hard to cut. (I just took the foil out of the pan and cut them into 24 bars w/ a pizza cutter.)

Nutrition Facts
Jess's Homemade - Playgroup Granola Bars

Servings: 1 bar 1 container (24 bars ea.)

Calories 85
Sodium 3 mg
Total Fat 3 g
Potassium 25 mg
Saturated 2 g
Total Carbs 14 g
Dietary Fiber 2 g
Sugars 4 g
Trans 0 g
Protein 2 g
Cholesterol 8 mg
Vitamin A 1%
Calcium 1%
Vitamin C 1%
Iron 3%

twonabunny

A friend of mine told me about Agave Nectar. I replaced my sugar with it. I am pre-diabetic and this stuff is 25% sweeter than sugar so you use much less and your body can process it better than sugar. I haven't made any granola bars with it yet, but it may be worth a try. Most grocery stores sell it in the sugar aisle.

i've never heard of this; have you bought it yet? what store did you find it at?

My whole family loves it. It tastes like really sweet honey. I use it in my oatmeal and in my drinks. I even put it in plain yogurt to give it a little sweetnes. I'm in northern Illinois so Walmart, Jewel, and Woodmans sell it here. But most chain grocery stores sell it.

Lululuv

Great thread everyone. I am excited to try a couple of these recipes!

Not to change the subject...but has anyone used fruit they have dried in a dehydrator when making homemade granola bars? I got one this past christmas and just love it!! None of those crazy preservatives you find in store bought fruit (what exactly is used to make those banana chips so chipy?) Also I have been making great lean beef Jerky for a good snack!!

Happyoceangirl

bump :happy:

Fabulocity

Trader Joe's sells it--also I have found it in most grocery stores. If you can't find it, ask the store staff. I have also found it at Target and Walmart Superstores.

Fabulocity

A friend of mine told me about Agave Nectar. I replaced my sugar with it. I am pre-diabetic and this stuff is 25% sweeter than sugar so you use much less and your body can process it better than sugar. I haven't made any granola bars with it yet, but it may be worth a try. Most grocery stores sell it in the sugar aisle.

i've never heard of this; have you bought it yet? what store did you find it at?

Fabulocity

Trader Joe's sells it. I have also found it at both Walmart and Target superstores.

blakgarnet

Here is my favorite homemade granola bar recipe. My family LOVES them!

My recipe... (I used whole wheat, less sugar and honey, more spice, less oil, and added applesauce and PB and omitted the raisins. You could also add some chocolate chips, nuts, or other dried fruit.)

Here's the link to the original recipe and I *tweaked* it to lower the cals and sugar.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Playgroup-Granola-Bars/Detail.aspx


Jess's Homemade Playgroup Granola Bars (listed in MFP database)

2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup wheat germ
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (optional)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup applesauce
1/4 cup natural chunky peanut butter (optional)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract


Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Generously grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, mix together the oats, flour, brown sugar, wheat germ, spices, and salt. In medium bowl, mix together the honey, egg, oil, applesauce, PB and vanilla. Make a well in center of dry ingredients. Stir well or mix well using your hands. Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared pan. (I layered the pan w/ foil and sprayed Pam on a spatula to pack it down)

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until the bars begin to turn golden at the edges. Cool for 5 minutes, then cut into bars while still warm. Do not allow the bars to cool completely before cutting, or they will be too hard to cut. (I just took the foil out of the pan and cut them into 24 bars w/ a pizza cutter.)

Nutrition Facts
Jess's Homemade - Playgroup Granola Bars

Servings: 1 bar 1 container (24 bars ea.)

Calories 85
Sodium 3 mg
Total Fat 3 g
Potassium 25 mg
Saturated 2 g
Total Carbs 14 g
Dietary Fiber 2 g
Sugars 4 g
Trans 0 g
Protein 2 g
Cholesterol 8 mg
Vitamin A 1%
Calcium 1%
Vitamin C 1%
Iron 3%

I made this without the wheat germ and peanut butter (don't have the former and don't like the latter). I also used splenda brown sugar blend instead of straight brown sugar to try and cut a few calories. Interestingly enough, by calculating it on spark recipes, I got 99.6 calories per bar (I was expecting less since I cut 2 ingredients and replaced one with a lower calorie alternative). But they are so yummy! I may do another batch with dried fruit!

trinks114

:flowerforyou: Thx, can't wait to try this recipe.

chelleim

Sounds great! Thanks for the recipe! I cannot stand store-bought granola bars.

nursestewart

BUMP!

fadhatter

bump

Vallandingham

Going to try it this weekend. Going to substitute Splenda Brown Sugar and might research some other alternatives. Gotta be better than the bars my wife picks up at the store.

averys7

tag...thanks for the recipe!

jessmomof3

I made this without the wheat germ and peanut butter (don't have the former and don't like the latter). I also used splenda brown sugar blend instead of straight brown sugar to try and cut a few calories. Interestingly enough, by calculating it on spark recipes, I got 99.6 calories per bar (I was expecting less since I cut 2 ingredients and replaced one with a lower calorie alternative). But they are so yummy! I may do another batch with dried fruit!

I used sparkrecipes to calculate also! Maybe the difference in the brand of products used??

They are good and the recipe is very versatile. My SIL made them w/ dried cranberries and dark chocolate chips and she said they were amazing!

As for agave nectar, most places carry it now. Super Wal*mart even carries it. It is lower in glycemic than honey and really yummy too!

HealthyChanges2010

thanks for the ideas

LadySavage

i'm adding agave nectar to my grocery list. there's a super walmart very close to me; thanks everyone!

donnaleecam

Hope to make some soon!!

Shuutnstar

bump!!

cjm0014

bumpski