I’ve been making these granola bars nonstop for the past month. We go through a double batch a week and there are only three of us. 🙄

They are somewhat based on a version from Tastes Better From Scratch. I needed our granola bars to hold together a bit better, so I made some adjustments. I also added a few more mix-ins to make it a touch healthier. There are a lot of ingredients, but this recipe takes no more then 10 minutes.

Ingredients

2 cups quick oats
1.5 cups crispy rice cereal
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
1 tablespoon ground chia seeds
1 tsp brewer’s yeast
6 tablespoons butter (or coconut oil)
1/3 cup honey (about)
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla or maple extract
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup pecans
1/2 cup dried fruit

Directions

1. Fit a piece of parchment paper in a 8×8 or 9×9 pan.
2. Melt butter or oil in a pan, then mix in brown sugar. Let the two cook together for a a minute then remove from heat and turn the burner to low.
3. Give the butter and sugar a chance to cool. While that cools, mix together the first five ingredients in a large bowl. You can add the last three ingredients now, or sprinkle them on top. I like adding them now.
4. Back to the pan: add the extract and stir. Then whisk the egg in a small bowl before pouring into the sugar mixture. Mix constantly to keep the egg from cooking. Once the egg is thoroughly mixed, move the pan back to the low heat. Let warm on the stove top, until the mixture (mainly the egg) seems cooked. The mixture will begin thickening up, that’s kind of how you know.
5. Pour the warm ingredients into the bowl and mix until well combined. Dump the mix into the pan. Pat it all down well into the pan.
6. This is kind of the key to the bars sticking: add another layer of parchment, or a silpat, onto the top of the bars. Then using your hands, another smaller pan, cutting board, or whatever you find handy, press the bars down very firmly. I find it best to place the pan on the floor and use a bread pan to press into the bars with my full weight.
7. If you waited to add the toppings, now is when you can add them. Repeat step 6.
8. Stick the bars in the fridge for about two hours. Once cool, you can pull them out of the pan, slice and eat!

I keep them in the fridge, but they also last for the day at room temp, without falling apart. They are sticky and chewy and a little too sweet for me, but my family loves them and I feel better that they are eating something homemade instead of from a package.