Homemade granola bars are fresh, delicious and easy to whip up. Add raspberries and apples and you have a nutritious snack kids will love.
Homemade Granola Bars
If you haven’t ever made homemade granola bars, it is a lot easier than you might think. They are a snack that is filling, easy to grab, and have tons of options so you don’t get sick of them easily. The kind we like are soft and chewy – we think they are the most delicious – and they are easier for kids to eat than the crunchy kind. You can make a big batch all at once and store them so you aren’t making a big mess in your kitchen every day!
This recipe only calls for 1 tablespoon of honey. If you like your granola bars a little more sticky, then you can definitely add more. The applesauce in this recipe adds a really great sweetness, but also moisture to these bars. If they seem too ‘fluffy’ then you can melt the coconut oil and honey together and boil for just a minute. This will help to create a denser texture.
The recipe says you can cut them after 10 minutes, and you can! But if you chill these in the fridge for an hour or so, they will hold together a lot better. Also, it is important to press the granola bar mixture into the pan really well. The longer and harder you press, the better your bars will stick together.
Are Granola Bars Healthy?
If you think about the ingredients you put into your granola bars, that is really what determines if they are healthy are not. Let’s take a closer look at the main ingredients in this recipe:
- Coconut Oil: Contains a higher amount of MCT than other oils which are harder for our bodies to convert into stored fat and easier to burn off. Plus coconut oil gives baked goods an amazing hint of coconut flavor.
- Applesauce: Contains a good amount of fiber in the form of pectin making it a substantial ingredient and good oil replacement. Has a high amount of Vitamin C.
- Oats: Whole grain high in fiber, manganese, B vitamins and also have good protein.
- Raspberries: High levels of antioxidants, flavonoids (memory improvement) and Vitamin C.
When you combine these ingredients together, then these granola bars are basically a powerhouse of nutrition. Parents would agree a great afternoon snack, lunch box snack, or even yummy with breakfast!
Granola Bar Kids Snack
Sometimes granola bars get a bad wrap because kids can eat them in 1.2 seconds and then want 5 more. The great thing about making your own is that they are usually a lot more filling because they have ingredients that have a lot more nutrition. Dried fruit, flax, nuts and seeds are all great add-in options that provide fiber and protein.
More Great Granola Bar Recipes:
- Quinoa Coconut Granola Bars
- Healthy Carrot Cake Granola Bars
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Trail Mix Granola Bars
- Chewy and Delicious Nut-Free Granola Bars
Raspberry Apple Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- 1/2 cup applesauce, unsweetened
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 1/2 cup oats, dry
- 1 cup, unthawed raspberries, frozen
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray an 8 inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- Melt coconut oil without heating it. Set aside.
- Whisk together room temperature applesauce, milk and honey. Add to a large mixing bowl and whisk in the coconut oil.
- Add cinnamon and oats, blend until combined. Fold in the raspberries without over-mixing.
- Spread batter into prepared baking dish and press into dish with back of spoon.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes and cut into 8 bars.
Nutrition
www.superhealthykids.com
