Granola Bars and Recipe Modifications
I have never been one to make good, chewy, moist, homemade granola bars. I always seem to do something to burn them, overcook them to the point of being dry, or not packing them into the pan well enough, so they crumble and turn more into granola than granola bars when you go to cut them. My younger sister, on the other hand, seems to have the granola bar making talent. Nine times out of 10, her granola bars are more than just good, they are delicious, and I have to credit her and her granola bar making talents for inspiring me to write this post.
When she began making granola bars, she used this recipe (link), but over time, she wanted to cut back on the added sugar and fat, and replace them with the healthier, natural sugars.
There are many substitutions you can make in lots of recipes to cut back on things such as added sugar and fat, or to replace an ingredient if you find out once you have started that you are missing it. Here are some examples of substitutions that you can make:
While there is still some sugar in granola bars, coming from the honey, here is the revised granola bar recipe.
Megan's Chewy Granola Bars
Ingredients:
4 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 cup whole wheat flour*
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 bananas, mashed
1 egg
1/2 cup honey
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips**
*NOTE: Recipe calls for all-purpose flour but using whole wheat flour will add more fiber, vitamins, and minerals to the granola bars. To increase the fiber contents and healthy fats, even more, add 1/4 cup ground flax seed
**NOTE: Get creative - chocolate chips can be replaced with nuts, seeds or dried fruit to reduce the added sugar and add healthier fats
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly grease one 9x13 inch pan
2. In a small bowl, mash bananas, then add applesauce and egg. Whisk until well mixed.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, flour, baking soda, vanilla, and honey. Add the bananas, applesauce, and egg. Mix well then stir in the chocolate chips, nuts, seeds, etc.
4. Lightly press mixture into the prepared pan. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes then cut into bars. Let cool completely in pan before removing or serving.
TIP: Once granola bars have been cut and cooled, wrap in plastic wrap and freeze. Grab a bar from the freezer when packing your lunch and it will be ready to eat by lunchtime.
What is your favorite way to make a recipe healthier?
When she began making granola bars, she used this recipe (link), but over time, she wanted to cut back on the added sugar and fat, and replace them with the healthier, natural sugars.
There are many substitutions you can make in lots of recipes to cut back on things such as added sugar and fat, or to replace an ingredient if you find out once you have started that you are missing it. Here are some examples of substitutions that you can make:
- Pumpkin puree can replace the eggs and oil 1:1 in brownies
- Flax eggs (1 tablespoon of flaxseed soaked in 2.5 tablespoons of water for 5 minutes make one flax egg, equivalent to one egg) can replace eggs
- Greek yogurt can replace sour cream in baked goods and dip recipes
- Oats instead of breadcrumbs
- Mashed avocado instead of mayonnaise
- Mashed bananas or unsweetened applesauce can replace butter or oil 1:1 in baked goods
While there is still some sugar in granola bars, coming from the honey, here is the revised granola bar recipe.
Megan's Chewy Granola Bars
Ingredients:
4 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 cup whole wheat flour*
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 bananas, mashed
1 egg
1/2 cup honey
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips**
*NOTE: Recipe calls for all-purpose flour but using whole wheat flour will add more fiber, vitamins, and minerals to the granola bars. To increase the fiber contents and healthy fats, even more, add 1/4 cup ground flax seed
**NOTE: Get creative - chocolate chips can be replaced with nuts, seeds or dried fruit to reduce the added sugar and add healthier fats
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly grease one 9x13 inch pan
2. In a small bowl, mash bananas, then add applesauce and egg. Whisk until well mixed.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, flour, baking soda, vanilla, and honey. Add the bananas, applesauce, and egg. Mix well then stir in the chocolate chips, nuts, seeds, etc.
4. Lightly press mixture into the prepared pan. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes then cut into bars. Let cool completely in pan before removing or serving.
TIP: Once granola bars have been cut and cooled, wrap in plastic wrap and freeze. Grab a bar from the freezer when packing your lunch and it will be ready to eat by lunchtime.
What is your favorite way to make a recipe healthier?
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