I mentioned to John and his dad that I was going to make granola bars similar to the granola I’d made last week and John looked at me with the most quizzical look. He said, “Did you check my browser history?”
I gave him the same look right back and said something elegant like, “Huh?”
He said he’d searched the net last night for a low GI granola bar he could make to snack on but hadn’t found anything that didn’t look like straw or worse. He’d found one that didn’t have any sugar, honey, agave or maple syrup and I asked how it would stick together. “You add egg white,” he said.
To remain in keeping with my previous comment, I said, “Ugh!”
Have you priced granola bars at the store? After you did that did you check the ingredients? Held together with high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, they are bars I’d rather not consume.
However, these granola bars are full of nicely roasted macadamia nuts, pecans, walnuts, peanuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, toasted coconut and oats, some sultanas and dried cranberries and they’re all held together with honey, maple syrup, a little bit of brown sugar and some butter. John might make something that looks like it’s fit for a horse but I’m going to eat these. Yellow box honey has a lower GI than normal honey or sugar and next time I’ll substitute some low GI sugar for the brown sugar and see how it works.
I’d rather pay more for quality ingredients and know that every bite will leave me groaning with pleasure – mumbling, ‘SOOooo good.’
This batch won’t last long.
We took J’s parents to lunch today after a visit to the optometrist and the hearing aid shop. I brought along a few granola bars so Joan could have a taste and her eyes lit up and asked if she could take them back to the nursing home. Win! If an 89-year old woman thinks these are good, I’ll stop here and not try for a better granola bar recipe.
- 3 cups rolled oats (not the instant kind)
- ½ cup macadamia nuts (cut in half)
- ½ cup walnuts (roughly chopped)
- ½ cup pecans (roughly chopped)
- ½ cup peanuts (whatever sort you like)
- ¼ cup coconut flakes
- ⅔ cup sultanas or raisins
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup flaked almonds (or any almonds you have on hand)
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup maple syrup (you can reduce this if you wish but add more honey)
- ⅓ cup butter (unsalted or reduce the amount of salt you ad if you use salted butter)
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Preheat oven top 180C/350F and line a baking sheet with baking paper
- Add all the nuts and roast for 5 minutes, stir and roast for another 3-4 minutes until lightly browned. (and try not to eat any - I couldn't stop myself)
- Line another baking sheet with baking paper and add the oats, sunflower seeds, pepitas and coconut and roast for 5-7 minutes, stirring once.
- While the ingredients are roasting, add the butter, brownsugar, honey and maple syrup in a large saucepan and cook on medium heat until the mixture boils. Reduce heat so the mixture simmers and cook for 4 minutes to thicken.
- When the nuts and oats are roasted, place them in a large bowl and pour over the honey mixture when done.
- Mix well with a spatula and pour into a baking tray with sides that's been lined with baking paper.
- Smooth the mixture with the spatula and place a sheet of baking paper on top. I used the bottom of a pan to press down the mixture as hard as I could. The more compressed the mixture is, the better it will stick together in bars.
- Leave the top baking paper on and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Remove from the baking tray and place on a cutting board.
- Cut to the size you want and wrap in cling film.
- The bars will last a week. (probably not at my house)
When I was in college, upteen years ago, I use to make homemade granola all the time. That was back in the hippie days! I’ve made it a few times in the past few years and love it. They’re so perfect to take on trips or bike rides. I love this recipe with all the ingredients giving it tons of flavor. I’m printing this off to try. If I recall I use to use peanut butter instead of butter to help bind it along with the honey. Can’t wait to try this. Thanks for sharing.
I’m the only one in the family that likes peanut butter and I didn’t want to eat them all by myself. 🙂
This looks so amazing! I definitely have to make my own granola bars!
My husband just came home from work and he ate 3 homemade granola bars!
I love all the nuts and seeds you used in this recipe. They look scrumptious.
Wow – do I love a good granola bar and these look perfect – and beautiful! Thank you so much for this recipe!
I’ve noticed that too, “healthy” bars are not so healthy as they sound! I like your granola recipe (will try it!) and this sounds good also! My kids will love to bring this to school for their snack!
Love the variation of fruits and nuts here. This is one of those things that I need to stop making excuses about! I eat a granola bar almost everyday, so I really should be making my own. Thanks for the inspiration!
The thing that takes the longest is roasting the ingredients – the rest takes just a few minutes. I won’t buy them any more.
Hi Maureen, these bars look like they are delicious and healthy. Will be making these for sure. Sounds like the in-laws are so lucky to have you in their lives, you are so good to them. Happy Tuesday!
Your recipe sounds great!
I love Granola Bars. =) Pinning to save!
I’ve always been suspicious about the overpriced granola bars. Nice that you made them yourself. I wouldn’t mind eating those at all…they look rich and tasty. 🙂 ela
I’m all for any recipe that leaves me groaning with pleasure! We don’t buy granola bars just because of all the junk they contain. Might as well eat a candy bar (not really, but close). These look good, and definitely worth a try. Thanks.
These are looking awesome. Love granola bars.. Will definitely try your version too.
These are going into my bookmark. John is so sweet…btw…did you check his browser history ?? 😉
Goodness those granola bars look tasty.
Great philosophy and attitude about eating for groaning pleasure. I am with you ALL the way. 🙂
they look delicious and so chewy which is exactly what I go for in a granola bar
they look chewy and delicious! I love a chewy granola bar. only way to have it in my opinion
These look fantastic, Maureen, and yes, if a woman of that age is ecstatic about them, then there’s no need to search for a better recipe. I would love to have a batch of these in my house to snack on, as would my uni students xx
Maureen, I love your recipes. These little bars look and sound delicious, and I agree with you about the store bought version, who would bother! Lovely recipe, my friend xox
I need one (or three!) of your granola bars with my afternoon coffee :).
These look so yummy! My kids and I go through granola bars like they are going out of style and I had been thinking about just making them myself. I will definitely be giving this recipe a try! As for the egg whites to bind…ummm… I agree; UGH! 😛
Hi Maureen, Your bars looks delicious! 🙂 You are right, granola bars are very expensive and most of them are full of sugars. I love granola bars and I find myself eating 3-4 granola bars or more a day. We started making our bars 3-4 years ago, your recipe is similar to mine. I use flax seed instead of pumpkin seeds and I use chopped almonds instead of the macadamia. I showed my wife your post and we are going to try your recipe this week!
They really do look good, I’d love to make them but macadamia nuts are exorbitantly expensive here. I might try to leave them out, or even replace them with hazelnuts. I know JT would love this snack.
I love chewy granola bars. Thanks for sharing.
Yeah, those grocery store granola bars are AWFUL! I have a feeling I could eat a ton of your version! And so nice that your MIL gave them her endorsement, too 🙂
These looks like all kinds of good Maureen and like you said you know exactly what’s in them.
So many good ingredients in this recipe- please sign me up!!
Dear Maureen,
I never buy the supermarket ones coz I think there’s a fair bit of sugar in them. The ingredients look really healthy, do it just eat them on its own or with something else?
LOL I always think that it’s best we don’t check their browser history! And if muesli bars are the thing that stands out well all the better 🙂 These look fantastic and as you say, they’re expensive and full of additives when you buy them.
I don’t check browser history or wallets. I think everyone should have a bit of privacy. 🙂
The store variety shouldn’t even get mentioned in the same sentence as these. Yours look, and sound, great!
My kind of snack food, definitely making them. Thanks for sharing.
Granola bars with all my favorite mix-ins! That is one golden brown pan full of gorgeousness, Maureen. You’ve ignited a granola craving in me, and I’d love to bake my own batch now!
These look delicious, I’ve gotta try those. I usually buy them and not care much for the ingredients thinking it is sure HEALTHY.
Maureen these look great and just what I need – a healthy snack to grab quickly!
Your Granola Bars look wonderful, Maureen and I love the sound of the recipe. You are so right about quality ingredients – they make such a difference to flavour, taste and nutrition.
They do sound yummy and homemade is way better than anything that you can buy.
These granola bars are so much healthier than the store-bought. I can’t wait to try your wonderful recipe.
Hmmmmmm……YUM!!! Homemade granola bars are so much better then store bought any day! Your recipe sounds like it would definitely not last in that pan at all! Yum, Hugs, Terra
This definitely wouldn’t last long in my house! I tried making granola bars once, but they didn’t turn out as good as I hoped. These look perfect!
OMG! These granola bars look awesome Maureen…I have never made granola, let alone granola bars…now seeing these beauties I feel that I should give this a try…
Hope you are having a great week 😀
These look better than anything that I pay $2.50 for at the co-op. I definitely need to make my own. Thanks Maureen!
Maureen,
Your granola bars sound superb! I love the variety of fruit and nuts that you’ve got. There’s not too much of anything. That’s one thing that bothers me about some bars is when there’s too much of any one item.
wonderful recipe! This is the kind of granola bar I can’t stop eating
I love homemade granola bars, shop bought ones always seem a bit sweet to me and that seems strange for a healthier snack. I would devour these in an instant!
These look wonderful and I’ve been hiding a bag of macadamia nuts for just the right recipe! Can’t wait to make these!
I love granola bars, Maureen. I think it’s the thought of some virtuousness in them among all the sugar. Can’t beat them with a nice English brew.
These are the most beautiful granola bars I’ve ever seen. And they’re chewy to boot. Winner!!
I’m listing the ingredients to make these next week and….I see that maple syrup is mentioned in the instructions but not in the ingredients? How much should I be using?
oh no ! I swear I proofread that. That’s the problem for me when I create on the go and I remember how I made it and then forget an ingredient in the list. It doesn’t happen often but when it does, I’m hugely embarrassed! It’s 1/4 cup and I’ll fix it right now! Thanks a lot for letting me know.
Thanks Maureen…now maybe you should change it from 14 cup (mega messy) to 1/4 cup,,,,lol
NOW we’re talking embarrassed! Never do anything in a hurry!
I really need to try homemade granola bars. 10 AM and 4 PM I’m always craving for something sweet and I usually go for some choco.. Not good for my waist line 😀
I know the feeling. AND these bars are very filling with all the oatmeal. So nice to see you!
I love all the quality ingredients in here like macadamias: now there’s a delicious, expensive ingredient that you are never going to find in a store-bought granola bar. These wouldn’t last long at my house, either!
OK…so I have now made 2 batches with the 3rd batch due tomorrow. I have shared with a neighbour so haven’t inhaled all of them. Now I want to know if there is a granola group similar to AA?
Maureen, This has a heavenly taste. I’ve made it and cannot stop eating!!! Hubby is so so please with it. The problem is that he is asking for it every week 🙂 he told me he will never eat store bought bars again . Thank you for this lovely recipe .. really so delicious.
Isn’t that great and I haven’t made them for a while because I ate them all. 🙂