Chewy Granola Squares

Okay, so I have been on a granola kick lately! I love thick, chewy, yummy granola bars and these are SUPER yummy! And they are real easy to make and pretty versatile as far as some of the ingredients.

Not quite cooled, I just couldn't wait!

3 1/3 cups quick oats

1 1/2 cups sugar

2/3 cup ground oats (Put 2/3 c. oats in a food processor and grind them up real good)

1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 to 4 cups dried fruits and nuts (I used cherries, cranberries, flax seed, pecans and mini chocolate chips in this one)

1/3 cup peanut butter 

4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, melted

3/4 cups honey

2 tablespoon water

Preheat your oven to 350, line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper in one direction so it hangs over the sides. Spray the paper and exposed pan with cooking spray.

Mix all of the dry ingredients together.  In separate bowl, whisk together all wet ingredients.  Add the wet to the dry.  Make sure you incorporate it well.

Pour the mixture into the baking pan. Press down real good and spread the mixture out evenly filling the whole pan.  This can be done easily with a piece of parchment paper, less mess!

Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the edges get a little brown. The top may start to brown also.  The middle of the mixture will still look and feel a little "un-done" but that is okay. It will set up once it is cooled.

Cool for 15-20 minutes in pan on cooling rack. Then lift out of pan using parchment paper and cool on rack until completely to speed up the process! Once cool, use a serrated knife and cut into squares. Wrap individually in plastic wrap. I usually store mine in the frig so the humidity doesn't take its toll on them!

Homemade Granola

This stuff is so good!  Try not to eat it all while it is cooling!  We love it mixed with plain vanilla yogurt or with milk for breakfast or just by the handful!  The great thing is, this recipe is very versatile. You can use any combo of nuts and fruit you want!  In this recipe I used grape seed oil but you can use regular vegetable oil if you like!

Let me know if you try this and how you like it! Any changes or additions? Let me know!



4 cups oats

1/2 c coconut flakes

1/4 c packed brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

3 tbs flax seed

1/2 c pecans

1/2 c pumpkin seeds

1/2 c sunflower seeds

2 tbs grape seed oil

1/4 c honey

2 tbs maple syrup

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1 c dried cherries

1 c dried cranberries

Mix all dry ingredients except the dried fruit together. Add in wet and combine well.  Spread in large sheet pan sprayed with non stick spray. Cook 1 hour on 250 stirring every 15 minutes to ensure even color. Once cooled, add dried fruit and store in airtight container.