You know what always makes me happy.... Granola Bars. I love them for breakfast, lunch, dessert, or any time of day for that matter.
What is even better than the super easy (and usually pretty cheap) store bought kind.... Making your own!
Homemade Cinnamon & Strawberry Oatmeal Bars
A.K.A. My Version of the Granola Bar
Ingredients:
1.5 cups regular oats
1 cup Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1 Egg
1/2 cup + 2 tbsp Melted Butter (I use Smart Balance Butter with EVOO)
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
4 Tbsp. of Ground Cinnamon
2 tbsp almond milk
1/3 Cup Chopped Walnuts
1 Cup Low Sugar Strawberry Preserves (...or you can make your own my simmering 1 pint chopped strawberries with 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water mixing as it simmers down for about 10-15 minutes)
1 cup Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1 Egg
1/2 cup + 2 tbsp Melted Butter (I use Smart Balance Butter with EVOO)
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
4 Tbsp. of Ground Cinnamon
2 tbsp almond milk
1/3 Cup Chopped Walnuts
1 Cup Low Sugar Strawberry Preserves (...or you can make your own my simmering 1 pint chopped strawberries with 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water mixing as it simmers down for about 10-15 minutes)
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Line a square pan (I used a 9×9) with parchment paper
3. In a large bowl, mix the oat base dry ingredients: oats, flour, cinnamon, brown sugar, baking soda, salt.
4. In a small bowl, mix the melted butter, maple syrup, almond milk, and egg. Stir well.
5. Add the wet mixture (reserving 1/2 cup of the mixture) to the dry and mix well, using hands if necessary.
6. Pour the oat mixture onto the square pan and press down with fingers. Use a pastry roller to smooth out if desired.
7. Pour on strawberry preserves and smooth out.
8. Sprinkle on the reserved 1/2 cup oat mixture and sprinkle on.
9. Now sprinkle on chopped walnuts.
10. Bake at 350F for approximately 40 minutes. Allow to fully cool for at least 30-40 minutes before gently removing from pan.
11. Slice and then store in a container in the fridge to keep firm.
Calories: 186.4
Total Fat: 8.3g
Sodium: 183.8mg
Carbs: 33.8g
Protein: 2.8g
Besides chewy, fruity granola bars... CHOCOLATE is the other substance that can calm my stress.....
I think chocolate in needed tonight.
Does food help to calm your nerves and lessen stress for you? Or am I the only crazy one out there that is soothed by the desire to chew (within moderation of course!)...?
1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Line a square pan (I used a 9×9) with parchment paper
3. In a large bowl, mix the oat base dry ingredients: oats, flour, cinnamon, brown sugar, baking soda, salt.
4. In a small bowl, mix the melted butter, maple syrup, almond milk, and egg. Stir well.
5. Add the wet mixture (reserving 1/2 cup of the mixture) to the dry and mix well, using hands if necessary.
9. Now sprinkle on chopped walnuts.
12. ENJOY! I topped each of my Oatmeal Bars with a dollop of Coconut Butter! DELICIOUS!!!!
Nutritional Breakdown Per Serving:Calories: 186.4
Total Fat: 8.3g
Sodium: 183.8mg
Carbs: 33.8g
Protein: 2.8g
Besides chewy, fruity granola bars... CHOCOLATE is the other substance that can calm my stress.....
I think chocolate in needed tonight.
Does food help to calm your nerves and lessen stress for you? Or am I the only crazy one out there that is soothed by the desire to chew (within moderation of course!)...?
OMG... that looks so easy too. That is definitely going in the recipe book. Anything easy AND yummy is my thumbs up. Thanks! :)
ReplyDelete-SP: aprilbless