Crunchy Munchy Granola (CMG) Bars

Happy hump day ya'll!  Do you like the blog post name?  Our oldest daughter Julie was put up to the task of naming this post and I think she did pretty well!

I bet you right about now you are having a mid-day craving for something yummy that will hold you over until dinner. I have a recipe for you that will get you over the middle of the day munchies in a healthy way!  Let's talk granola bars.  These perfect snacks for hungry tummies are not always the best choice because of mystery ingredients.  My recipe for granola bars is not only super inexpensive and healthy, but it yields 45 bars!  Yes you heard right - 45!!!!  Not to mention that you probably have almost every ingredient in your pantry.  I love lists and bullet points so be prepared to see them a lot in our blog.  My first list will be words I want to describe these "CMG" Bars with:

*delicious

*fast

*healthy

*easy

*crunchy

*sustaining

*perfectly portable

*sweet and salty

One of the best things about this recipe is the time it takes to make it and utensils used.  I like to chop with a knife (mainly because I don't like washing our food processor parts), and I love recipes that only use limited utensils like this one!   Simplistic cooking is definitely my thing.

With school about to start back up, these would be a great Saturday morning recipe to whip up and store away to throw in the lunch boxes.  People, it is definitely a win-win, this recipe!  I do recommend using local and/or organic ingredients in all our recipes, but unless you're a millionaire that can't always happen, trust me, I get it.  Just try to use the best quality ingredients your budget will allow and your body will thank you later.  Let's get started!

Mix the oats, salt, and oil

Place on baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes

Rough chop almonds and set aside

                   Cook sugar and honey on medium heat for 5 minutes stirring constantly

Thanks Curtis Apiaries we love your local honey!

Add vanilla and cinnamon

Remove oats from oven and pour in bowl and add almonds

Oh my stars...

Add honey mixture to oats and pour onto parchment lined sheet

Use a bench scraper to press down oats evenly

After baking for 35-40 min at 300 degrees cool for 10 minutes

When crisp to the touch cut, 9 rows by 5 columns

You could also cut less rows for bigger bars

  

Enjoy!

Crunchy Granola Bars
Adapted from Delectably Mine, originally from America's Test Kitchen

Ingredients:

7 cups old fashioned oats

1/2 cup coconut oil (virgin unrefined)

1 1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups almonds (optional)

3/4 cup honey

3/4 c packed brown sugar

1 T vanilla extract (get the good stuff - it makes a difference)

2 t ground cinnamon (optional)

Place rack in center of oven and preheat to 375 degrees.  

In a large bowl combine the oats, melted coconut oil, and salt and place on a cookie sheet.  Place in oven to toast for 20-25 minutes, checking halfway and tossing the mixture around on the sheet.  The oats should be a toasted gold color.  While oats are toasting, course chop almonds with knife or food processor.  

Next, combine honey and brown sugar in a saucepan and cook on medium for 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves.  Add cinnamon and vanilla to the honey mixture and mix thoroughly.  Remove oats from oven, reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees, and pour oats back into large mixing bowl.  Add almonds to the oats.  Pour honey mixture on oats and mix thoroughly.  

Place a sheet of parchment paper on baking sheet and pour oat mixture on parchment lined baking sheet.  Use a board scraper with coconut oil rubbed on it (or oiled hands) and press the mixture down flat and even.  Bake in the 300 degree oven for 35-40 minutes.  Take out and cool pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes.  

Gently use sharp knife or board scraper to cut 9 rows across and 5 columns up and down to make 45 delicious, salty sweet treats.  Enjoy the fruits of your labor and put some peanut butter on top of one to make your day even better!  These babies will store perfectly for 2 weeks in a covered container.

So there it is.  Try it out this weekend and let me know how it goes.  Comment below on any questions or suggestions you have and I will be sure to get back to you!

In Health and Happiness,

             Andrea