Homemade Granola Bars

One of my girls has an anaphylactic peanut allergy.  For all you non-food allergy families that probably just sounds like a total inconvenience.  For us food allergy families it's so much more.  We can't just go to the store to grab snacks, we can't order cakes from bakeries, we can't trust other people to feed our kids.  (It's not personal, it's just that it's not your everyday life to read labels and check everything.)  

The one thing I have learned is that my child can have all those same treats, and they are actually (in my humble opinion) so much yummier!  One of the main snacks for school age kids are granola bars.  By making them at home I can assure her safety, but also I can save money, and make really custom flavors.  I use organic, natural ingredients, we make all sorts of varieties and I wrap them up so they sort of look like they've been individually prepared.  Gives my girl a sense of being just like everyone else.

(I add the chocolate chips right after the honey mixture, so they melt...the upside, it hides all the healthy stuff like wheat germ and flaxseed and taste delish!)

Here is my basic recipe:

2 cups old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup wheat germ
2 tbls flax seed

3 tbls unsalted butter
2/3 cup honey
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp kosher salt

add in:
1 cup coconut
1 cup nuts (slivered almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts)
1 cup chocolate chip (or other flavor chip)
1 cup loosely crushed graham crackers
1 cup marshmallows (coarsely chopped)
1 cup coarsely chopped dried fruit (cherries, apricots, figs, dates, blueberries, strawberries)

Heat oven to 350 degrees, on a baking sheet toast oats, coconut, and nuts (if your using them).  Bake for about 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper.  (I like a thicker granola bar)

Transfer the oat mixture into a large mixing bowl, add wheat germ and flax seed.   Reduce the oven heat to 300 degrees.

In a saucepan mix; honey, butter, brown sugar, vanilla and salt, over medium heat bring to a boil.  (Here's a handy hint, spray your measuring cup with Pam before you pour in the honey, and viola! it slides right out!)  Cook at a boil for one minute and pour over the oat mixture.  Add chocolate chips, fruit and any other mix ins now. 

Lightly dampen fingers with water and press the mixture into the baking sheet.  Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden.  Let cool completely before cutting (2-3 hours).  Cut in 3inch x 1 inch rectangles.

Our favorite mix is oats, flaxseed, wheat germ, coconut, chocolate chips, marshmallows and graham crackers.