Homemade Granola Bars

Most granola bars sold in grocery stores are anything but healthy, despite what they claim. It’s always important to look beyond the marketing and really consider the ingredients. Is it made from real whole food? Or is it just flour, fillers and sugar? Are there strange preservatives or soy derivatives and processed ingredients? Are the ingredients inherently nutritious and full of natural fiber? Or are they fortified with synthetic vitamins and minerals?

When you make your own homemade granola bars you can decide what goes into them. That means you can load them with real food nutrients, avoid the refined and processed ingredients and make them any flavor you like!

This basic recipe for homemade granola bars is a simple seed bar with a very moderate amount of sweetener and oil. It is a high protein bar, loaded with natural fiber and beneficial fatty acids. This bar will keep you going a lot longer than a store bought bar and won’t leave you with an energy low when the sugar wears off.

You can dress this basic recipe up with the flavors you like best. Try adding different spices, like cardamom, fresh ginger and/or nutmeg. You can also add raw cacao powder, maca powder or mesquite powder for extra power. Dried fruit, raw nuts, shredded coconut, cacao nibs or carob chips can be added for flavor variety and extra nutrients.

Ingredients:

(use organic whenever possible)

1 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup sesame seeds or hemp seeds

1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)

1 tablespoon flax seeds

2 tablespoon pure maple syrup, raw honey, or *agave

1 1/2 tablespoons melted coconut oil or olive oil

1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional)

2 tablespoons chopped dried fruit (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Combine seeds and blend in a food processor (blend all or leave some whole for chunkier bars).
3. Add oil and sweetener, and blend again.
4. Pour out into a mixing bowl and add in optional spices, dried fruit, remaining seeds, or other flavor variations. Work them in with your hands.
5. Press dough into a cookie sheet with sides (1/4-1/2 " thick)
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes.
7. Let cool until firm and cut into bars.

*Agave nectar appears to be a low glycemic sweetener. It is easy to use in sugar free recipes and produces delicious baking results. Since its health effects are still up for debate we recommend paying attention to how it affects your body and using it in moderation. For more information on sugar-free substitutions click here.