My Granola Bars

My Granola Bars - The big batch

This is designed in a big batch because of the mix-and-match factor. I used two large round pizza pans, lined with aluminum foil for ease. These freeze well in single-serve sandwich baggies, perfect for a kid to grab and put in their backpack for lunch or a snack. Moist and delicious, these can be made custom to your taste. You control the fiber content and nutritional content. I haven't been able to mess these up yet!

*6 cups rolled oats - not instant
*2¼ cups packed brown sugar
*1½ cups wheat germ (or oat bran or a bit of flax or all three)
*2¼ teaspoons ground cinnamon
*3 cups flour (whole wheat or oat bran or your preference, all or in combo)
*2¼ cups dried fruit or nuts or a few chocolate chips (Be creative! Dried berries, apple and raisin, apricots and walnuts, just straight dried blueberries or what you like!)
*2¼ teaspoons salt
*1½ cups honey
*3 eggs or equivalent in egg substitute, beaten
*1½ cups vegetable oil OR 1 cup applesauce and ½ cup of oil
*6 teaspoons vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Use cooking spray to lubricate the foil already lining the pans or plain cookie sheet. Two circular pizza pans or regular cookie sheets work well, or use two 9 x 13 baking pans or dishes, but check frequently after 30 minutes in the oven to get the correct cooking length for you.

2. In a very large bowl (I use the big plastic fruit bowls from Wal-Mart), mix together the oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, fruit/nuts, and salt. In a separate bowl, beat together the honey, egg, oil and/or applesauce, and vanilla. (Tip: Put the honey in right after the oil using the same measuring cup, and it doesn't stick as badly). Get a heavy-duty spoon and mix it all together.

3. Divide the batter between the two pans. Use the cooking spray to coat your hands and spread until evenly distributed.

4. Bake for 35 minutes in the preheated oven until the bars turn golden at the edges. If you do not use foil, cut into bars while they are warm, or they will be tough to cut. If you use foil, wait until cooled, pull from the pan using the foil, and break apart into pieces or use a knife to cut them into bars. If freezing, a sandwich baggie in the microwave for just less than a minute will put them to an edible state.