Granola Bars - Anyone have a "clean" way of making them?

Hi,

I purchased several seeds & nuts from the bulk bins at the grocery store and I am looking for a way to make them into granola bars. Essentially, I need to know how to make them stick together.

Every recipe I have found online involves foods that I'm trying to avoid, such as butter, syrups, etc. I don't mind using raw honey as an adhesive, but I have no idea of the process. Some sites suggest baking the nuts/seeds first, while others say bake them with the honey (or whatever adhesive).

Anyone with experience making "clean" granola bars, I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks much,
Stacy

Replies

  • jwdieter
    jwdieter Posts: 2,582 Member
    Hi, I did a google search for "clean granola bars recipe" and the first two results were an unbaked and a baked option.
  • chunkybun
    chunkybun Posts: 179 Member
    I mix mine with natural peanut butter and honey.

    1/2 cup peanut butter
    1/3 cup honey

    Mix with all the nuts/seeds, then put in fridge for min 30 mins before shaping. Keep them in the fridge, or the peanut butter will separate
  • tamzinb10
    tamzinb10 Posts: 38 Member
    These are sweetened with maple syrup and have a lovely soft, chewy texture. (you could add your own seeds/nuts combos)!

    MAKES 24
    25g flaked almonds
    40g no-soak dried apricots
    40g dried cranberries
    40g sultanas
    75g unsweetened puffed rice cereal
    40g desiccated coconut
    150ml maple syrup
    400ml apple juice (preferably the
    cloudy type)
    125g porridge oats

    82 calories per piece

    Preheat the oven to 190°C/Fan 170°C/Gas 5. Line a 20 x 30cm
    brownie tin with baking parchment. Scatter the almonds over a
    baking tray and bake in the oven for 5—6 minutes or until lightly
    toasted, then tip them into a large mixing bowl. Cut the apricots into
    small pieces and add them to the bowl along with the cranberries,
    sultanas, rice cereal and coconut.

    Put the maple syrup and apple juice in a large saucepan and warm
    over a low heat, stirring once or twice. Add the oats and bring to a
    gentle simmer, stirring. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly
    until the oats become thick and porridgy - keep a close eye on it as
    the mixture does get very sticky. Remove the pan from the heat and
    stir in all the other ingredients until thoroughly mixed.

    Make sure you grease the baking parchment before adding the mixture
    otherwise it will stick!

    I usually bake mine for about 35mins and then check, as it seems to bake really quick.

    Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and flatten the surface with
    a spatula to press everything down well. Pop into the preheated oven
    and bake for*40—45 minutes until the mixture is golden brown and
    the surface is crisp. Take out of the oven and press once more with
    a spatula — this will make the bites easier to cut later. Leave to cool
    in the tin for about 30 minutes before cutting into small squares
    with a sharp knife.

    Transfer to a board and lift the squares off the lining paper. Store in
    an airtight container lined with baking parchment for up to 5 days.

    MAKES 24
    25g flaked almonds
    40g no-soak dried apricots
    40g dried cranberries
    40g sultanas
    75g unsweetened puffed rice cereal
    40g desiccated coconut
    150ml maple syrup
    400ml apple juice (preferably the
    cloudy type)
    125g porridge oats

    82 calories per piece
  • awasson7
    awasson7 Posts: 8 Member
    Homemade Chewy Granola Bars

    1/2 cup peanut butter or sunbutter
    1/3 cup honey ( I use 1/4 cup - still plenty sweet)
    1/4 cup coconut oil (or another oil of your choice)
    1 cup oats
    1 cup total of any combination of: sesame seeds, coconut flakes, sunflower seeds, dried fruit, mini chocolate chips

    In a medium sized saucepan, melt together peanut butter, honey and coconut oil.

    Remove from heat and add one cup of oats. Choose your favorite combination of coconut flakes, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, dried fruit and mini chocolate chips, to equal a total of ONE CUP. (I just got out my one cup measuring cup and poured in the ingredients until the cup was full.) Pour in and stir well.

    Stir well, then spread mixture into a 8×8 or 9×4 pan.

    Chill for two hours, then cut into bars.

    Wrap in plastic wrap for a quick grab and go snack!
  • squiguk
    squiguk Posts: 29 Member
    Whenever I make oat bars I just blend together raisins, walnuts and porridge oats. Makes them stick together if you do it in a food processor. I use the recipes from the Chocolate Covered Katie website which is a dessert blog but healthy versions!
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Yah I Mix them up in a bowl on my counter not on the floor...keeps em clean that way.
  • funkygas
    funkygas Posts: 191 Member
    This recipe doesn't use any honey or butter as a binder - just the dried fruit processed that helps them to stick together.

    150g chopped nuts
    150g chopped dried fruit
    20g shredded coconut
    1 tsp vanilla
    1-2 tbs water

    Process all ingredients in a food processor, adding enough water to make it combine, but not too much to make it gluggy. Press into a pan (really press hard) and put in the refrigerator or freezer to chill for at least an hour.

    http://cookathome.info/raw-energy-bar/
  • Phrick
    Phrick Posts: 2,765 Member
    Yah I Mix them up in a bowl on my counter not on the floor...keeps em clean that way.

    +1
  • russellbrand69
    russellbrand69 Posts: 132 Member
    Dates, cut up fine and simmered with a little water, will make a sticky, sweet binding liquid!
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    bump
  • abadvat
    abadvat Posts: 1,241 Member
    Yah I Mix them up in a bowl on my counter not on the floor...keeps em clean that way.

    Make sure you wash your hands too!