What is the number one packaged/processed food item going into schools, lunches, and snack bags? If you are a parent you’ll know the answer because granola bars become a staple food item once you have kids, mainly because we believe they are healthy, but also very convenient. I won’t try to take away your convenience but I can’t get over how easy homemade granola bars are to make. Once you nail the recipe and get the enthusiastic reaction from your kids  – there’s no going back to store bought.

This recipe is also nut-free so the bars are safe to bring to school for  kids with allergies. Other benefits of homemade bars is you lesson your environmental impact because they don’t have non-recyclable wrapping and the ingredients can be altered so the entire bar is organic and made without genetically modified ingredients. They’re also filling and provide more than just a light snack for the entire family. The recipe I use is not less expensive than store bought but there are certain things in life that are more important than saving money and food is becoming one of these areas in my life. Try making these bars once and it’s tough to ever go back to store bought – especially when the kids like them more!

A few tips before reading through the recipe: I would recommend buying the ingredients in bulk. I make this recipe twice a week for my family and buying ingredients in bulk is the only way to reduce cost. Especially when using organic oats, wheat germ, flour, and raw honey.

Dry Ingredients:

2 cups rolled oats (organic)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup wheat germ (organic)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup all-purpose flour (I use half and half with organic whole wheat flour and white)
3/4 cup raisins (optional – I use chocolate chips)
1 tablespoon of chia/hemp seeds (I buy Anita’s Chia & Hemp Breakfast Boost)

Wet Ingredients:

1/2 cup honey (unpasteurized)
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (organic)
1/2 cup organic apple sauce (or more*)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Generously grease a 9×13 inch baking pan with butter.

In a large bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, chocolate chips and personal extras (nuts, chia/hemp seeds, dates, etc.). Make a well in the center, and pour in the honey, egg, oil, vanilla, and apple sauce. Mix well using your hands. Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.

*When you are mixing the ingredients and if they don’t appear really wet, add more apple sauce! This will ensure the bars are really chewy and moist!*

Bake for 30-35 minutes in the preheated oven, until the bars begin to turn golden at the edges. Cool for 5 minutes, then cut into bars while still warm. Do not allow the bars to cool completely before cutting, or they will be hard to cut. Store on your counter in an airtight container.