Oat granola is a healthy snack food with a long shelf life.
When granola first appeared on the market you found it at health food stores. When consumers became more conscious of making smart food choices, granola slowly moved into the local grocers' but with additions that made granola bars tastier, like chocolate chips. Next came chewy granola bars filled with preservatives. This means that the majority of commercial granola bars aren't truly good for you. The good news is, however, that you can make healthy, hard slabs of granola at home relatively easily.
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Roll out a sheet of waxed paper long enough to reach up the sides of the pan. Line the baking dish with the waxed paper and set aside.
2. Line a cookie tray with parchment paper. Sprinkle the oats, nuts and coconut evenly over the tray. Put into the oven for 15 minutes, toasting the mixture lightly.
3. Mix the honey, molasses, peanut butter and vanilla together until well incorporated. Set aside. Remove the hot oats from the oven.
4. Pour the hot oats and nuts into a large mixing bowl. Slowly mix the wet ingredients, stirring regularly. Add the dried fruit and keep mixing until it is dispersed evenly throughout the batter.
5. Press the granola into the pre-lined baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes. Use the waxed paper to lift the hard slab of granola out of the pan, remove the paper and cool. Cut into whatever size bars you like, then store in plastic wrap or a food storage container.
Tags: granola bars, waxed paper, baking dish,