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+ servings

Granola Bars

Nutrient-dense ingredients like sunflower seeds, almonds, and wheat germ pack a healthy punch in these classic sweet and chewy homemade granola bars.
This recipe first appeared in Season 9 of Good Eats.
Photo by Lynne Calamia
Homemade granola bars cut into squares on a piece of parchment paper.
ACTIVE TIME: 20 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 1 hour
Yield: 16 bars

Software

  • 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
  • 1 cup sliced almonds
  • 1/2 cup wheat germ
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus extra for pan
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 6 1/2 ounces chopped dried fruit, any combination of apricots, cherries, or blueberries

Procedure

  • Butter an 8-by-11.5-inch glass baking dish and set aside. Heat the oven to 350ºF.
  • Spread the oats, sunflower seeds, almonds, and wheat germ onto a half-sheet pan. Place in the oven and toast for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • In the meantime, combine the honey, brown sugar, butter, vanilla, and salt in a large (4- to 6-quart) saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook until the brown sugar has completely dissolved, about 3 minutes.
  • Once the oat mixture is done, remove it from the oven, and reduce the heat to 300ºF. Immediately add the oat mixture to the liquid mixture, add the dried fruit, and stir to combine. Turn mixture out into the prepared baking dish and press down, evenly distributing the mixture in the dish and place in the oven to bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Cut into squares and store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.