My boys are always hungry after school and/or sports. Granola bars make a simple, convenient snack for them. They are easily transportable, and they can be a healthy option, especially if homemade. I have been tinkering in my kitchen with granola bar recipes that use the healthiest ingredients, and are still tasty. I’ve found that the following granola bar recipe both pleases my boys, and even better, fills them up until dinner. They are chock-full of dried berries and mini chocolate chips. The dried berries supply a good source of Vitamin A, C and K, along with antioxidants. I use coconut sugar, derived from the palm sap of coconut trees, instead of sugar. Coconut sugar has fiber and beneficial minerals that regular sugar doesn’t.
Very Berry Granola Bars
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of organic rolled oats
- ¾ cup of organic coconut sugar
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- ¾ cup of dried blueberries, cranberries and cherries
- ¼ cup mini-semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¾ tsp salt
- ½ cup honey
- 1 egg
- ½ cup canola oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, mix together the oats, coconut sugar, whole wheat flour, berries and salt. Next add, the honey, oil, egg and vanilla.
Bake for 25-30 minutes.
