Chewy Granola Bars

I found this recipe a couple years ago when I was trying to lessen the sting of a "no dessert" diet.  I was banned from making cookies, cakes, pies, sweet rolls, and anything inherently dessert.

However, I'm a baker at heart, and staying out of the kitchen and away from the oven was almost harder than not eating the results of what comes from them.  Baking often serves as a kind of therapy for me, especially when there's a delicious payoff at the end.  

So I baked a few loaves of white bread, and that tided me over for a few days.  But I still really just wanted a cookie, and it drove me crazy that I couldn't make any!  I went on the hunt for a "healthy" replacement, and this is what I found.  Granola bars are really just cookies in disguise, but I won't tell if you don't.

These granola bars are not crunchy at all, (unless you put nuts in them) but that's why I love them for our kids.  For a crispy granola bar, try this recipe.  Our crispy granola bars are a little crumbly but these are not super crumbly, they're a pretty substantial snack, and they travel well.  They'd be perfect packed in a school lunch.

Start by mixing the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

Add the wet ingredients,

and mix well.

Press into greased pan.  The original recipe makes a 9x13 inch pan, but here I doubled the recipe, so I used a half sheet pan.

Bake until lightly golden (not completely browned, like I accidentally did).  All the way browned is still good, but barely browning on the edges is better.

After about ten minutes of cooling time, cut into bars.  Don't forget!  You'll regret it.

Allow to cool completely before serving.  Store covered for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for several months.

Chewy Granola Bars

2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup wheat germ (can substitute oats or flour if you don't have any)
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup raisins, chocolate chips, nuts, or other mix-ins
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup honey
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup oil
1 tsp vanilla

Combine oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, salt and mix-ins in large mixing bowl.  Mix well.  Combine Remaining ingredients in glass measuring cup and mix well.  Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients.  Stir to combine.  Press mixture into greased 9x13" pan.  Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes, or until edges begin to brown and center looks set.  Remove from oven.  Allow to cool ten minutes before cutting into bars.  After cutting, allow to cool completely before serving.  Store covered at room temperature for up to two weeks, or several months in the freezer.