Since I started making Rob homemade breakfast muffins, I have wanted to expand the repertoire to give him a little more variety. Seeing this post on the lovely blog A Life Less Sweet gave me the inspiration to try my hand at granola bars. I used the linked recipe as a guideline but tweaked it to fit my pantry.
Cashew Cranberry Granola Bars
Oven to 325
Spray non-stick 9x13 inch baking pan lightly with canola spray
3 cups old-fashioned whole grain oats
1/4 cup golden flax meal
2/3 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 teaspoons baking soda
2 generous teaspoons of Penzeys cake spice
4 tablespoons very soft unsalted butter
3 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
one 4 ounce cuppy of unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup raw honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup toasted cashew pieces
1/2 cup craisins
Mix all ingredients with a wooden spoon until well combined. Press mixture into prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes or until set and nicely golden brown. Cool completely (or they will crumble to a pile of rubble) on a wire rack, turn out onto a cutting board from pan and cut into bars (will make 16 to 24 depending on how small you slice them.) Devour!
The weather has turned very warm here, so I think it's best to store them in the fridge. Simple, simple, simple and absolutely delicious, these healthy to-go breakfast bars took no time at all to put together. Lightly sweet and nutty, the small amount of sweetener allows the whole grains, fruit and nuts really shine.
The weather has turned very warm here, so I think it's best to store them in the fridge. Simple, simple, simple and absolutely delicious, these healthy to-go breakfast bars took no time at all to put together. Lightly sweet and nutty, the small amount of sweetener allows the whole grains, fruit and nuts really shine.
Hi! I am Shannon and I love your blog! I, too am exercising and eating healthy to loose a ton of weight. Several of my friends and I have started a group. We recently started a blog to keep track of our ups and downs. You look great! Keep up the good work!
ReplyDelete2 of my favorite ingredients - cashews and cranberries. Yum!
ReplyDeleteWelcome Shannon and the other Manchester Moms.
ReplyDeleteyum, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletethose bars look great! yum!
ReplyDelete"Homemade Granola Bars"
ReplyDeleteI will have to give these a try. It looks like a great snack idea and by you making them everything is healthy. A lot of people like buying so called health bars at the store and they are just loaded with calories,sugars,fat and sodium.