I don’t know who invented the term “lazy days of summer,” but it certainly doesn’t apply in our house! Having the kids around more is great, but we’re all just so busy. I can’t remember being this busy growing up, but I guess I was once I hit the teenage years. Work and friends and running around – there aren’t enough hours in these long, hot days!
The other thing there isn’t enough of, apparently, is food in the house. I feel like all I do is grocery shop. And I’m going broke with the ever-growing price of groceries. I had just returned from the store and was putting away the groceries when….
Me: “The pantry and fridge are full! Make yourself a snack.”
Courtney: “But what is there? I don’t know what to have.”
Taylor (walking in the door from work): “We need ‘grab food.’”
Grab food. Hmmmm. I guess my suggestions to “cook a chicken breast, boil an egg or make a salad” weren’t quite what they were expecting. So I perused the overflowing pantry in search of “grab food.” Turns out they’re right….sort of. I’m always in favor of self-sufficiency, so I don’t take well to blank stares or “I don’t know how,” when I suggest making a sandwich or cutting up an apple. However, I do appreciate that sometimes you just want something you can grab and eat on the run, throw in your purse, etc.
Granola bars! They’re supposed to be healthy, right? I can just keep a bunch of granola bars on hand and they can pair it with fruit for a healthy snack. That will be our “grab food” for these types of emergency appetite flare-ups. Back to the store I went.
I could not believe it. $5.49 for a box of 6 tiny granola bars. SIX. Six will last a day in our house. The grocery budget I try to live by isn’t going to support this “grab food” habit, I can tell already. Well at least they’re healthy, right? I try to ignore for a second that they’re covered in chocolate as I turn the box around…fiber, a little bit of protein, not too high calories….some brands pretty high in sugar….an ingredient list a mile long, corn syrup, partially hydrogenated stuff. Urg. And they’re $5.49 for SIX! And the “healthier” they get, the more expensive they get. Guess this will be my next challenge!
I set out to create a granola bar that’s tasty, filling and wholesome. I wanted to make it from whole grains and include some sources of protein and fiber. Here we go.
Me: “I made homemade granola bars! Try them!”
Keith: “They’re missing something.”
Me: “I know. Taste.”
Keith: “Well, they’re perfect for dieters. No one will be tempted to eat two!”
OK then. I’m now on experiment recipe number four, and I’m happy to say that we have a winner! These granola bars taste just like banana bread – seriously! Here are the stats: 125 calories, 3 grams of fiber, 3.5 grams of protein and only 8.5 grams of sugar (and nearly 1/3 of that is from fruit and rolled oats). AND, they’re only $0.25 each -- roughly $2.00 for the whole batch of EIGHT!
I’ll be experimenting with these! I can’t wait to try pumpkin instead of banana, add some natural peanut butter or throw in some mini-chocolate chips or chopped nuts. The possibilities are endless, so I’ll let you know what I come up with. In the meantime, try these. So easy, so healthy, so affordable – so “grab-worthy!”
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| TSG Banana Bread Granola bars...grab this! |
“Banana Bread” Granola Bars
Makes 8 bars
1 ripe banana, mashed
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tbsp honey
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp + 1 tsp Splenda brown sugar blend (divided)
2 cups rolled oats
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients through brown sugar, saving 1 tsp of brown sugar for the top. Mix oats and flax seed in a separate bowl, then add to liquids. Stir well to combine, then press into small baking pan with sides (misted with cooking spray) or simply form into a 1/2-inch thick rectangle on a cookie sheet (also misted with cooking spray) -- it will hold its shape. Sprinkle with remaining brown sugar and bake for 30 minutes. Invert onto a cooling rack and cool completely before slicing.
Give ‘em a whirl and let me know what you think! Also, if you have more ideas for healthy “grab food,” I’m all ears!
The Svelte Gourmet: A Month of Main Courses cookbook is available at www.thesveltegourmet.com/products.html. I challenge you to eat with me for a month – you’ll love the results!
FAQs
Granola Bar Recipe Ingredients
Natural peanut or cashew butter – It helps bind the bars together, and it adds protein, healthy fats, and irresistible nutty flavor. Whole rolled oats – They give these bars a perfect chewy texture.
What is the glue in granola bars? ›
While the oats and nuts bake, you can make the sticky glue that holds our bars together. You'll melt butter, honey, and brown sugar in a saucepan and simmer until the sugar dissolves. Mix this sticky mixture with the toasted oats and nuts. Allow everything to cool, and then toss in dried fruit and chocolate chips.
Why do my homemade granola bars fall apart? ›
Using the right binding agent in your granola bar recipe is a crucial part of keeping your bars from falling apart. While there are several different sticky ingredients that you can use, we've found that the binding agent that works the best is honey!
Are homemade granola bars healthier than store bought? ›
While store-bought granola bars can be unhealthy and full of added sugars, these homemade granola bars are healthy in moderation. They're a delicious and nutritious snack option compared to those that come in a package.
What is the best binder for granola bars? ›
Honey. Sweetens the granola bars and helps bind the dry ingredients together.
What ingredient makes granola stick together? ›
Add an egg white.
The whites act as a kind of glue that binds the ingredients together. To ensure that the egg whites coat all the ingredients, I beat them with a whisk until foamy and increased in volume, which makes it much easier to fold into the granola.
Should you soak oats before making granola bars? ›
Fill the bowl up with water to completely cover the mixture – enough that you can stir to combine. This soaking process will help the oats and seeds digest better. After the oat/seed mixture has soaked 8-12 hours, add the rest of the ingredients and combine.
Is rubber cement food safe? ›
Swallowing or putting small amounts of rubber cement in your mouth is often harmless. However, eating large amounts on purpose can cause damage to your brain, liver, and kidneys. Severe damage to your brain, lungs, and kidneys can occur over time from repeatedly sniffing rubber cement.
What happened to Chewy granola bars? ›
“We carried Quaker's Chewy Bars and Oat Squares cereals until they were recalled back in December 2023. None of these items have returned to our store's shelves yet. We suggest reaching out to Quaker for additional information on when these products might be available again.”
What can I use to hold granola bars together? ›
Make sure that whichever granola recipe you use, it calls for some liquid, typically oil of some kind (I recommend olive oil for a subtle earthy, floral flavor, or melted unrefined coconut oil for subtly coconutty flavor). The liquid will help the chia seeds to gel, ensuring the granola sticks together.
If your granola bars are falling apart or seem too crumbly, here are a few tips. Make sure you use honey or another sticky sweetener such as maple syrup in the liquid part of the recipe; this recipe calls for honey. This will help bind together the ingredients and keep that signature bar shape.
How can I get my homemade granola to clump? ›
Turn oven down to 300 degrees F. Spread granola onto baking sheet, pressing down to make it stick together in compact form, as one uniform piece that is about 1/2 inch to 1 inch thick. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until mostly dry. DO NOT STIR.
Is it cheaper to make your own granola bars? ›
Homemade granola bars aren't hard to make once you have all the right ingredients and they'll certainly save you money in the long term.
Are Nature Valley bars actually healthy? ›
Honestly, a lot of Nature Valley's granola bar products are packed with added sugar, which is totally OK to enjoy once in a while, but be sure to check the nutrition label if you're looking for something less sugary to enjoy on the daily.
How do you make granola bind? ›
Flaxseed is wonderful for this, because after 30 minutes it soaks up the water, and turns into a gluey mass that will bind all your granola ingredients together. Also, flaxseed is the most concentrated source of essential omega-3 fatty acids. It has tons of fiber too.
Why is glycerin in granola bars? ›
Glycerin helps preserve moisture, prevents sugar crystallization, and adds bulk, smoothness, softness, sweetness, and texture to a range of foods and beverages. It gives the final product its smooth, thick texture.
What is glycerin in granola bars? ›
Glycerin is used as an ingredient in a variety of food and beverage products to help retain moisture, prevent sugar crystallization, and add bulk, smoothness, softness, sweetness and texture. Like most sugar alcohols, glycerin is not as sweet as sugar—it is about 60–75% as sweet.
Why does granola fill you up? ›
Filling and high in fiber
Most granola is rich in protein and fiber, which both contribute to fullness.
