Homemade Granola Bars

Do you feed a kid when they come over for a playdate? Usually a snack needs to happen, but what do you feed them? Something healthy-ish and fun is a good call. It’s not a sugar-busting birthday party, just a fun play. Homemade Granola Bars fit the bill!

momstown Victoria and kids baked the "best ever" granola bars together during their Junior Chef program! These granola bars were so easy to make, and the kids loved helping out by measuring the ingredients and 'painting' oil onto the baking pan.

Regardless if you make these with your kids or not, they will love eating them and sharing them at a playdate!

Homemade Granola Bars

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup wheat germ
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup raisins (optional)
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan.

In a large bowl, mix together the oats, flour, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, salt and raisins. Make a well in the centre and add vegetable oil, honey, egg and vanilla extract. Mix well using your hands and pat into the baking pan.

Bake about 30 to 35 minutes or until the edges start to turn golden brown. Cool 5 minutes and cut the bars while still warm. Do not let the bars cool completely before cutting, or they will be too hard to cut.

Tips from momstown Victoria:

• Don't rinse out the measuring cup between measuring the oil and the honey; the oil will help the honey slide out of the measuring cup.
• Substitute dried cranberries and chocolate chips for the raisins.
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• Kids can help out by "painting" grease on the baking pan, "dumping" pre-measured ingredients, and "squooshing" all the ingredients together using their hands.