Make Your Own Granola Bars by Simply Amity

No bake- make your own granola bars

It's that time of year.  The kids are done for summer and the days grow longer. Everyone is outside working up an appetite; wether it be at the water park, campgrounds or your very own backyard. Hungry tummies are looming, so I have the best snack option for you. Homemade granola bars. Forget the boxed variety that can be filled with preservatives and come with limited choices. This is a summer pick me up that doesn't even require that hot oven. Just a stove top, a bowl, a few pans and premium ingredients, and you are ready to roll.

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 For the batch I am using all organic ingredients found at our local health food stores. Here is what you will need.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup organic butter

1/3 cup organic honey

1/3 cup organic brown sugar tightly packed

2 cups organic quick rolled oats

1 cup organic crispies cereal ( I use koala crisp )

***Additions***

1/4 cup organic raisins

1 1/2 Tbsp organic cinnamon

1/4 cup organic chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla ( in sweet sauce)

1/4 cup crushed organic graham crackers

1/4 cup organic chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla ( in sweet sauce )

1/4 cup of your favorite seeds/ combo (mix with dry ingredients)

Method:

Place butter, sugar and honey in a saucepan and on medium heat and bring to a boil.

While your sweet sauce is heating up combine your dry ingredients together in a large bowl ( omit additions until the last step) then line a pan with parchment or foil. Once your sweet sauce comes to a boil, let it boil for about 3 minutes or until softball stage-

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Pour sauce over your oat crispie mixture while stirring until evenly coated. Fold out the coated mixture on to your prepared shallow cookie sheet. With the back of a spoon or spatula even out the mixture on the pan.

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Now you get to add your additions. Sprinkle your chocolate chips, raisins or whatever you come up with, evenly over the top. Then with a separate piece of parchment or foil, firmly push down the mixture. Pushing the additions into the top layer until tight and solid. Let them cool on the counter for an hour or so then cut into bars.

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This recipe makes about 12 bars depending how tightly they set. I always double this recipe for the best sized bar.

As always!  Happy eating!  Simply Amity...