Good afternoon everyone,

I have been promising my kids all week that I would make them some granola and some granola bars. Well, I must be PMSing because when I made the granola (I used 1/2 cup real maple syrup and 1/4 cup HOT water), after it was baked and I was putting the dried fruit in (I used half dried apricots that I had snipped into 1/4s and half raisins, I got this notion that white chocolate chips would be good. So I also added 1/2 cup white chocolate chips to the whole mix. Don't really want to know the calorie ramifications, and now I can't use this for breakfast, but it is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good for a snack! This is going to have to go into the pantry or into the freezer so that I don't eat the whole tub.

But oh boy is it good!

By the way, I like the granola MUCH better with the 1/2 cup maple syrup (the real stuff, I use Grade B, dark amber) and 1/4 cup hot water than with brown sugar. Also, I always sub 1 tsp of the vanilla for almond extract.

Thanks Lori! They sound delicious.

Jennifer

quote:

Originally posted by Hannahs_mommy:
I've made the granola before and really like it. Does anyone know how you can make it into a granola bar?

Thanks,
Jennifer

Jennifer, I've made these twice this week with the crunchy granola, and they are WONDERFUL! My variations are in ( )

These also freeze really well. I baked them in an 8x 8 pan, then while still hot, turned them out onto a cooling rack. once they were completely cool, I cut them with my pizza cutter into 8 pieces. I wrapped each individual granola bar with plastic wrap and then put them all into a tupperware type container and stored them in my freezer. They are great!

Granola Bars from Recipezaar.com
recipe by mielhollinger
(This recipe is from the cookbook "How It All Vegan.")
6 large bars
30 minutes 10 mins prep
1 cup granola cereal (I use homemade granola)
1 cup coconut, shredded (I have some coconut haters, so I used 1/2 cup brown rice crisp cereal)
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup flour (I used whole wheat flour)
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 pinch salt
1/2 cup artificial sweetener (I used 1/3 cup sucanat)
1/2 cup raisins
flax egg substitute or psyllium egg substitute (to equal 1 egg) (I used 2 egg whites)
1/2 cup oil (I use olive oil)
2 tablespoons sesame seeds

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the granola, coconut, oat flakes, flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Stir in the sweetener, raisins, egg replacer, and oil.
4. Mix together well.
5. Spread mixture into a 8x8 pan.
6. Sprinkle top evenly with sesame seeds.
7. Bake for 18-20 minutes.

I've made the granola before and really like it. Does anyone know how you can make it into a granola bar?

Thanks,
Jennifer

To get the granola to clump, I have to really smash it together. There are a lot of oats that don't clump, though. I usually put it into yogurt so this doesn't bother me much.

When I don't have the granola for my yogurt, Kashi Go Lean Crunch is a good substitute. It tastes kind of like Sugar Smacks from when I was a kid. I like to add some fruit -- sliced bananas or dried cherries and a few sliced almonds to the yogurt too, and it's almost like a dessert. It makes a good post-workout pick-me-up.

I'm glad this post is back near the top, I was going to search for it today.

Lori, or anyone else,
No matter what I try my granola does not clump...any suggestions. I do squeeze it together before it goes in the oven, as suggested in the recipe but only a few pieces stay clumped together.
Jill

quote:

Originally posted by Lori4squaremom:

quote:

Originally posted by jillybean:
Lori,

Jill

I'm normally not a big white chocolate fan, and I don't like it alone, but there are certain things that I like it paired with.....like dried apricots

And raspberries, I love white chocolate raspberry desserts, otherwise I white chocolate is not worth wasting the calories.

Dawn

Well I tried the granola. It was ok but not alot of flavor. Maybe I did something wrong. It had an oat flavor and not much of anything else. Could anybody give me any suggestions? I am wondering if I didn't use enough syrup or use the wrong oats. I don't know Please help.

quote:

Originally posted by jillybean:
Lori,
Thanks for the tip about the maple syrup, I am going to give that a try. Have you had the Just Be-Licious granola from KD? It had dark chocolate chips in it, yummy!! I would say your granola is still much healthier than any candy or other snacks!!
Jill

Hi Jill,

No, I haven't tried the Just BeLicious....I started to order some the other day but I just can't bring myself to spend as much on a small container of granola as I would an entire NICE dinner meal for our family. I know the money goes to a good cause, and I'm sorry that I can't support them (Maybe I should just send them the money and not buy the granola....I'd feel better giving a $10 charitable contribution than spending $10 on granola if that makes sense--plus it would come out of a different part of our budget anyhow ). Anyhow, I haven't tried it, but that is kind of where I got the idea for the white chocolate chips with the apricots. I like dark chocolate with strawberries, cherries, cranberries, and I like white chocolate with apricots. I'm normally not a big white chocolate fan, and I don't like it alone, but there are certain things that I like it paired with.....like dried apricots

quote:

Originally posted by Michb:
Ok now I would like to try it with maple syrup. You dont' use brown sugar at all or do you take away 1/2c for the syrup and 1/4 for hot water ans you are using a total of 3/4 c water. I have never made it so I am a little confused in what you mean when you use syrup. Thanks for your help.

Instead of using the 1 1/2 cups of brown sugar and 1/2 cup water (2 cups total liquid), I used 1/2 cup maple syrup and 1/4 cup hot water (3/4 cup total liquid). Hope that helps! I didn't use the brown sugar at all.....

Ok now I would like to try it with maple syrup. You dont' use brown sugar at all or do you take away 1/2c for the syrup and 1/4 for hot water ans you are using a total of 3/4 c water. I have never made it so I am a little confused in what you mean when you use syrup. Thanks for your help.

quote:

Originally posted by Michb:
Could you give me that recipe for granola. I can't seem to find it. That sounds really good and my family likes the store bought granola bars maybe they would like these.\

Here's KD's recipe for Crunchy Granola. Easy and delicious!

1 1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup water
4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
8 cups rolled oats
2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, or slivered almonds

Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.

Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper and reserve.

Combine brown sugar and water in a 4-cup microwave proof glass measuring cup or bowl. Place in microwave on high for 5 minutes and cook until sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from microwave, add vanilla extract and salt.
In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, nuts, and brown sugar syrup mixture. Stir until thoroughly mixed. Spread the granola onto cookie sheets and bake 45 minutes to 1 hour or until golden and crunchy.

When the mixture comes out of the oven, it is still very pliable. You may choose to add in dried fruit as a finishing touch at this time.

When granola has cooled completely, store in an airtight container.

Could you give me that recipe for granola. I can't seem to find it. That sounds really good and my family likes the store bought granola bars maybe they would like these.\

Lori,
Thanks for the tip about the maple syrup, I am going to give that a try. Have you had the Just Be-Licious granola from KD? It had dark chocolate chips in it, yummy!! I would say your granola is still much healthier than any candy or other snacks!!
Jill

I'm not a big white chocolate chip person, but I have used regular choc chips and done the same thing.

Thanks for the maple syrup idea. I will try that.

Kathy