ROCCO Diet Book WINNERS:
- Ky G
- Carol
- Bethany
- Carrie at Moves n’ Munchies
I’ve emailed each of you! Please send your addresses as soon as possible!
I used to be a huge fan of granola bars. I thought they made the perfect, portable, afternoon snack and so I bought them typically every week. However, the more I learned in my nutrition courses in college, the more I realized most varieties were nothing more than glorified candy bars AND had less than stellar ingredient lists. Soon I stopped buying granola bars and replaced my daily afternoon snack with more nutritious options; fruit, nuts, yogurt, veggies, etc.
When I started my blog, I stumbled upon many recipes for how to make your OWN granola bars! After trying out at least a half dozen different recipes, I’ve decided that homemade granola bars beat out any store bought bar you come across in the cereal aisle by a land slide!
This morning I bring you, “Oh So Good” Granola bars, adapted from Fitness Magazine (March 2011 edition). I made these bars Saturday afternoon and after making a few changes, these bars turned out to be extremely chewy, moist, flavorful, nutritious, and 100% delicious! I’ve been eating them all weekend and I must say: BRAVO Fitness Magazine! I adore this recipe!!
You know you want one....
Oh-So-Good Granola Bars
Makes ~16 bars
adapted from Fitness Magazine
- 1 1/2 cups Old Fashioned Oats
- 1/4 cup 100% whole wheat flour
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 T ground flaxseeds
- 1/2 tsp ginger
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 egg, beaten (or flax/chia egg)
- 1/3 cup unsweetened organic applesauce
- 1/4 cup organic honey, agave, or maple syrup
- 1/4 cup NuNaturals Stevia Baking Blend OR brown sugar
- 2 T canola oil
- 8 oz dried fruit (I used organic raisins and cranberries)
- 2 T sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 2 T chocolate chips AND 2 T white chocolate chips (a REALLY yummy addition but not necessary)
Directions:
Preheat oven 325 degrees.
Line an 8 x 8″ baking pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.
In a large bowl combine oats through cinnamon, stir well. Then add egg, applesauce, stevia OR sugar, and oil. Mix well. Stir in fruit bits, walnuts, and chocolate chips. Pour and spread evenly into the prepared baking pan.
Bake 30-35 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.
Cool completely on a wire rack. Remove bars from pan by lifting up the foil and cut in to 16 squares.
Since I like warm baked goods, I couldn't wait until they cooled, I just dug right in!!
As an afternoon snack or an after-dinner dessert, the nutritional profile won't make or break your diet!
Nutritional Profile: 213 calories, 7.4 g fat (1.3 g sat), 37 g carbohydrate, 2.9 g fiber, 4 g protein, 22 g sugar (natural sugar from the dried fruit contributes to the extra sugar)
Nutritional Profile with Stevia blend: 200 calories and 17 grams of sugars
LOVE this recipe! I make bars pretty much every week and am always looking for new recipes. Totally making this one!! Hope you have a great weekend
I love making my own granola bars and always looking for new recipes
thanks for posting!
I love granola bars. I’ve always wanted to make them at home but never have. This recipe might just do the trick!
These sound great! I love that you include several different options for sweeteners. I can’t use honey or agave because of the fructose content, but maple syrup would work!! I will have to try these once I get sick of my own bars
They look awesome. And of course the chocolate chips are a must in this household!
I have to make those! I still want to post the Chia bar recipe you posted about, too! So many things to try and girl, I am loving your recipe selections
These look really good and hearty. I love how thick they are.
My co-worker brought the fitness magazine version of these to work the other day and they were delicious! I love your variation…YUM!
YUM!
yum. I think these would be dangerous warm. Good and dangerous.
oh, i beg to differ, erin! choco chips and white choco chips are TOTALLY necessary additions to granola bars!
i agree – boughten granola bars and just not the best, nutrition-wise…plus, i find a lot of them just taste like what i imagine cardboard would taste like!
these bars look awesome! thanks for the recipe!
Those bars look FAB!!!! I love all of your healthy recipes!!
They always make my days perfect! 
Those granola bars look delicious!
Thanks for sharing, I need to add it to my list of things to make!!
These look like the PERFECT snack for me to bring to the hospital. Now if only I knew when I was going to go into labor so I could make them the day before. Great job!!
YAY ! so happy i won! holy yumballs i love granola bars!!!
These look perfect! I just made a batch of granola bars last night that turned out great. I’ll have to give these a try next
These do look perfect with the nice chewy texture!
These look amazing! I’ve made my own granola, but never granola bars. I love them, but it’s hard to find a healthy store bought version!
These look delicious! I have only made homemade granola..but not bars.
I am sure they taste way better than any store bough variety. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
LOVE homemade granola bars! these look goooood!
I totally agree that some granola bars are just glorified candy bars! When in doubt, make your own!! These sound great!
I LOVE granola bars!!! These look wonderful!
Yum!! I recently made granola bars and the flavour was great, but I didn’t like the way they stored even over one night. I will definitely be trying these!
I love homemade granola! It always starts as bars… but then they never stay together well for me and just become a granola mess instead. Still tastes awesome…
These sound really tasty Erin! I love making my own bars as well and they’re so much cheaper (and nutritious!) than packaged kinds. Great recipe!
The caption on the pictures says “you know you want one”. YES…yes, I do. These look great. Have a good Monday!!!
Yummy!!! Thanks for posting this recipe!
Those granola bars look absolutely amazing. I will definitely have to give them a try. Thanks so much for sharing.
xo
Awwww Happy Monday to me
Thanks so much!