Oats and Honey Granola Bars

This recipe of oats and honey granola bars creates a delicious and healthy granola bar, not to mention it is the perfect balance between crunchy and soft. Pre-make these snacks for a quick and healthy breakfast or a delicious snack on-the-go! The ingredient list is clean, wholesome ingredients you will likely already have around your house. Substitute the oat flour and rolled oats with gluten-free options to make gluten-free granola bars. Well what are you waiting for – lets get baking! 🙂

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 1/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 3/4 cups crispy rice cereal
• 2/3 cups oat flour (see below) OR whole wheat pastry flour
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup honey
• 1/3 cup coconut oil (melted)
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 9- by 13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Stir together the dry ingredients in a large bowl; oats, crispy rice cereal, oat flour, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt
3. Measure honey, melted coconut oil, and vanilla into a measuring cup, then drizzle over oat mixture and stir until combined
4. Transfer oat mixture into prepared pan and press down very firmly into an even layer – use the flat bottom of a spare pan to help pack the mixture down
5. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until light golden brown on top. (The longer the crunchier – careful not to burn!)
6. Remove from oven and use the spare pan to press down the granola bars again.
7. Cool in pan for 15 minutes, then carefully lift granola bars out with the parchment paper, onto a cutting board
8. Cool for 5 more minutes and then cut into 12 bars.
9. Remove to a cooling rack to finish cooling completely. Store in an airtight container.

OAT FLOUR: to make 2/3 oat flour, you will roughly need 3/4 to 1 cup of rolled oats. Blend in a food processor until consistency is a fine powder.

Recipe from Samantha at FiveHeartHome! https://www.fivehearthome.com/oats-honey-granola-bars/