Originally published on April 1, 2014
You can have granola, or you can spend a few minutes squishing it all down into a casserole dish, let it sit in the fridge overnight, and have granola bars. I prefer the latter, and just to keep everyone on their toes (and to comply with the peanut-free zone at the school,) I use a few different ingredients when my granola is going to be in bar form.
Ingredients:
2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup sweetened coconut
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chocolate chips, divided
Directions:
1.) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread oats and coconut evenly out onto the paper. When the oven is preheated, place oat mixture inside and toast for 5 minutes. Remove from oven, give everything a stir, and place back in for another 3 minutes. When done, remove to a bowl and allow to cool for 5 minutes.
2.) Meanwhile, combine the honey, butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and salt in a small saucepan on the stove. Warm over medium heat while stirring constantly, until the butter has melted and the sugar has fully dissolved.
3.) Remove honey and butter mixture from the stove and allow to cool very slightly. Line an 8″x 8″ x 2″ casserole or baking dish with parchment paper, allowing it to come up the sides.
4.) Pour the honey and butter mixture into the bowl with the oats and coconut and stir to fully combine. Add 1/2 of the chocolate chips and stir again. Don’t worry if they melt, this will help them to act as glue when the bars are cooling and forming. Add cranberries and raisins and transfer oat mixture to the dish lined with parchment.
5.) Lightly dampen the palms of your hands and for one full minute, press the oat mixture into the dish. Do this until it’s all spread evenly, and then continue to press and push on the mixture to further solidify it. The longer you push and spread the oat mixture, the firmer and more bar-like it will be when you remove it from the fridge.
6.) Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips on top and using a rubber spatula, push them into the top. They will likely melt and form a thin chocolate glaze on top.
7.) Place bars in the fridge and allow them to set for at least two hours (preferably overnight,) before cutting them into bars and serving.
8.) Serve and enjoy!