It is really frightening to look on the back of a granola or protein bar package and attempt to read the ingredients label. I can’t even pronounce, let alone know what each of them are. This is what they advertise as healthy?
This week we decided to make our own granola bars – with a little extra protein added. All of our children are into working out and eating better. The boys are in ‘bulking’ mode, as they use the winter time to gain muscle for the upcoming sports seasons. (Jim and I are also in bulking mode but this is an involuntary reaction to the cold winter months that prevent us from spending time in the garden during this time of the year). This means we must find ways to get them extra protein with a healthy balance of carbohydrate.
You can use the following recipe as a base recipe – adding other nuts, dried fruits, or various spices to individualized your creation. Although, we have found that this recipe is a great family recipe that fits everyone’s likes and doesn’t require any modifications. Making everyone happy with one recipe is an added bonus! If you want to skip the additional protein, check out another one of our favorite Homemade Granola Bar Recipe.
Soft and Chewy Protein Granola Bar Recipe
Using a stand mixer makes for easy work
Ingredients:
2 cups old-fashioned oats
½ cup vanilla protein powder
2 Tbsp. ground flax
1 tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. salt
¼ cup almond butter (or any natural nut butter)
¼ cup honey
½ cup vanilla almond milk (or any milk)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
⅓ cup chocolate chips (dark chocolate preferred)
Instructions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Fold in the chocolate chips, nuts or dried fruit.
1. Spray an 8 x 8 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray – set aside.
2. In a medium size mixing bowl, combine oats, protein powder, flax, cinnamon, and salt – set aside.
3. In a small size mixing bowl, combine almond butter, honey, almond milk, and vanilla. Mix until fully combined.
Press down mixture using a rubber spoon or your hand with wax paper over the mixture to prevent sticking.
4. Pour wet mix into dry mix and stir until fully incorporated.
5. Fold in chocolate chips.
6. Pour into prepared baking dish. Using a spatula or your hands, spread the mixture evenly in the pan, pressing down firmly.
After about 30 minutes of cooling, cut bars into 10 sections.
7. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until edges begin to turn golden brown.
8. Remove from oven and let cool in pan for 30 minutes before cutting into bars.
Enjoy!
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Mary and Jim
Soft and Chewy Protein Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups old-fashioned oats
- ½ cup vanilla protein powder
- 2 Tbsp. ground flax
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ¼ cup almond butter, or any natural nut butter
- ¼ cup honey
- ½ cup vanilla almond milk, or any milk
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup chocolate chips, dark chocolate preferred
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
- Spray an 8 x 8 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray - set aside.
- In a medium size mixing bowl, combine oats, protein powder, flax, cinnamon, and salt - set aside.
- In a small size mixing bowl, combine almond butter, honey, almond milk, and vanilla. Mix until fully combined.
- Pour wet mix into dry mix and stir until fully incorporated.
- Fold in chocolate chips.
- Pour into prepared baking dish. Using a spatula or your hands, spread the mixture evenly in the pan, pressing down firmly.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, until edges begin to turn golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let cool in pan for 30 minutes before cutting into bars.
Notes
Recipe courtesy of Old World Garden Farms
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g