In many parts of the country school’s already back in session, which means it’s time to stock up on lunch box treats and after-school snacks. If granola bars are one of your regulars, check out our recipe. In fact, it’s so simple that once the pan is prepared most school-age children could make them with little or no supervision. But how do the bars taste? All the kids I’ve shared them with give big thumbs up!
Granola Bars with Almonds, Chocolate, and Dried Cranberries
Makes 16 bars (or 24 if you’re trying to be extra good!)
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup wheat germ
1 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup of semi- or bitter-sweet chips or chunks (about 3 ounces)
1/2 cup dried cranberries or cherries
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat oven until 325 degrees.
Grease a 9-inch baking pan with vegetable cooking spray. For bars’ easy removal, line pan bottom and up the two sides with a 9- by 18-inch strip of heavy-duty foil. Grease foil with vegetable cooking spray.
Mix all ingredients in a medium bowl. Turn into prepared pan and pat down until firmly packed. Bake until golden brown about 30 minutes. Transfer pan to freezer to cool. When firm, use foil handles to remove bars from pan. Remove foil and use a long, sharp knife to cut bar into 24 1- by 4-inch bars. Can be stored in an airtight container up to 1 week.
Gluten free variation: Although they’re not quite as firm as the bars with wheat germ, they’re every bit as good. To make them, follow recipe for Granola Bars with Almonds, Chocolate, and Dried Cranberries substituting 1/2 cup rolled oats that have been finely ground in a food processor for the wheat germ.
Hi Pam, Reading through your comments and for those wanting to use something other than sweetened condensed milk, they what to try Karo syrup. I used the sweetened condensed milk with excellent results. I have another recipe that uses Karo syrup and might work with your recipe. Both are thick, sweet and sticky. I check grams of sugar in each and the sugars are about half in the Karo syrup and for those wanting to avoid milk and do not care peanut butter, this might be a nice option. The calories are slightly less in the syrup, 1 can of the sweetened condensed milk is about 1300 calories, and and equal amour of the Karo syrup is 1200 calories. They are so delicious as is, I will to make the recipe as you posted, however it might work for those wanting to use a substitute. Again, I love this recipe and will be making them often.
These were excellent and delicious. I made them a second time. This recipe is a keeper.
I found these on Pinterest and have made these 3 or 4 times know. It is hard finding healthy food that my 2 year old, my husband and I all equally enjoy.
Thanks!