Who doesn’t love a good care package? My mom sends the best ones and her most recent included some of these granola bars for the kids.
There are few store-bought granola bars that I like. Most of them are filled with preservatives and junk so whenever I get a chance to make them I do. After we gobbled up the ones my mom sent, I got the recipe from her so we could make another batch.
She originally made them because she wanted to recreate a oatmeal bar I had made when she came to visit us, but it turns out hers were different enough that I needed her recipe too!
It calls for quite a bit of oats which makes them a pretty thick bar. Of course you could always do a slightly larger dish but you might need some more fruit spread. Make sure to press down the oat mixture using a spoon or your fingers.
You’re going to layer oat mixture, fruit spread with dried fruit and another layer of the oat mixture. Even though there are three kinds of dried fruits in there, the blueberry flavor stands out the most because of the jam/fruit spread. Love the blueberries!
One of my best friends from high school is in town for work so she spent the night with us Sunday night and we had to have a Mexican feast. We stayed up late drinking wine and chatting. So fun! I need to get my act together to share this enchilada recipe someday- it’s a real treat!
Sunday
Sour Cream Enchiladas, Slow Cooker Black Beans, Cilantro-Lime Slaw
Monday
Leftovers
Tuesday
Beans & Green Rice (recipe coming!), Salad
Wednesday
Chicken Thighs with Lemon & Onions, Mixed Salad
Thursday
Bulgur and Roasted Veggie Salad, Leftover Chicken
- 1 stick butter softened
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup honey
- 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
- ¼ cup applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- ½ cup wheat germ
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ heaping cup blueberry fruit spread or jam
- ¾ cup mix of dried blueberries, cranberries, cherries
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line a 9x9 pan with foil coated in cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, cream together wet ingredients until smooth (some lumps are ok).
- In another bowl combine dry ingredients. Add dried ingredients to wet ingredients (except for fruit spread and dried fruit) and mix until combined.
- Spread half of oat mixture into prepared pan, flatten with an oiled spoon or fingertips. Cover with fruit spread/jam and then sprinkle on dried fruit. Spread rest of dough on top and flatten with a spoon.
- Bake for 20-23 minutes, let cool and cut into squares or bars.
Question: What’s on your meal plan this week? Do you have a favorite granola bar recipe? Feel free to link up in the comments section- I love trying new ones!
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Ooooh I LOVE blueberry and granola bars….and homemade is always a million times better, so this sounds like a pretty perfect recipe in my books!!
Also, thanks for sharing your meal planning – I was at a total loss this week, and you lemon/onion chicken sounds nice and spring-like so I’ll sneak it into my week somehow.
x x x
Ibbs @ LaLangostaYMi recently posted..Salmon Pesto Burgers
I’ve been on a serious blueberry kick lately and I think these will intensify it. Yum!!!
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama recently posted..Marathon Monday Week 9
hmmm this mightcould be my NEW FAVE for the child’s school snacks.
Miz recently posted..PLAYout at the playground: pull-ups.
Yeah, I’m with you on the bars, most of the ones Nick and I like are loaded with nasty stuff (I still buy them though…for now…). I’ll have to try these sometime. I cna’t do honey but maybe I could use maple syrup instead (extra).
Gina (The Candid RD) recently posted..Bulgur-Blueberry Salad (Perfect for Spring/Summer Cookouts!)
my granola bars have never included fresh fruit.. i’ve done dried fruit before, but never fresh… i like the way you think!
Linz @ Itz Linz recently posted..Healthy Weekend
I’ve been thinking about making granola bars lately as the store-bought ones are so super sweet. These look delicious and I love love love blueberries. Can’t wait to make these.
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf recently posted..What would you tell your parents?
Thanks Christine, hope you like them! 🙂
I love granola but oddly enough I don’t eat granola bars very often…actually I can’t remember the last time I had a granola bar! Your recipe looks yummy! I may have to put this on my list of to-make 🙂
Kierston @candyfit recently posted..Mental Rest: 5 Ways To Give Your Mind A Break!
Thanks Kierston! Luckily I get inspired to make things for my kids that I might not otherwise make. It’s fun having homemade treats/snacks but it’s hard to fit it in to all the other cooking!
these look SO good! i make something similar around xmas time and my hubby loves them!
Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean recently posted..Bean Bytes 33
Hi honey! Those look great! Am going to make more today!! And I would really like to make the enchiladas soon. Yours are SO good. I am in a Mexican food mood lately! If you ever come up with a good vegetable quesadilla recipe let me know! Guess one could grill the veggies and then make as usual. xo M
Love the blueberry layer in there… that looks fantastic! We need to make more granola bars this week… might have to try these!
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast recently posted..Boston Shout-outs and Blueberry Balsamic Dressing
Thanks Laura. It’s always nice having homemade snacks for the kids.
I would love to see what the sour cream enchiladas are–sounds great!
One of these days I’ll make them earlier enough to photograph them! Food blogger issues 😉
I’ve been dying to make my own granola bars! These look so delicious and I love that fresh fruit filling!!
Ari @ Ari’s Menu recently posted..Grilled Skirt Steak with Blackberry Avocado Salsa
I love to keep healthy snack/ treats like this invididually wrapped in my freezer for quick snacks or lunch boxes. I will be making these soon!
Monday- pasta & steamed broccoli and cauliflower w homemade pesto
Tuesday- roasted brussell sprouts, eggplant & sweet onion over polenta rounds w homemade tomate sauce
Wednesday- bean burgers, okra & baked potatos
Thursday- kale salad & roasted sweet potatoes
Friday- out
I never make enough to freeze but this time I did a double batch so I can! Yay! Sounds like a yummy, healthy week!
count us in for leftovers! love them!
lindsay recently posted..Winning Weekend: Shop Smarter and a Blueberry MMAZ
These look great! Can’t wait to give them a try!
I’ve made Cobbler Granola bars (http://seatatthetable.wordpress.com/2012/04/08/granola-bars-fuel-for-when-youre-on-the-move/) in the past that I really enjoyed, but haven’t made any recently. I’ll definitely be adding these to my menu plan!
Lauren recently posted..Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal
Thanks Lauren, I am always up for new recipes! The kids go through a lot of snacks. 🙂
I might try to make these gf. They look YUMMY!
Another easy week for me…
Monday- Paella Primavera (it was so good!!!)
Tuesday- Dinner meeting, something quick for the kids
Wednesday- Baked potatoes and Massaged kale salad
Thursday- Spinach and bean quesadillas with guac
Friday- take the hubs out for his bday 🙂
Sat- Block party Fiesta
Brittany Smith recently posted..Homemade Lara Bars and an Update.
oh these granola bars look FANTASTIC!!!
I’m always inspired by your meal plans! Those enchiladas sound good…I hope you share soon 🙂
My son loves granola bars, I have yet to make them myself and I have no excuse whatsoever! I have a ton of oats (Costco) – these look fantastic!!
You and your mom are too cute, trading recipes! My mom’s care packages rarely included homemade food, but she always put in my favorite dark chocolate and granola from Trader Joe’s! I like the idea of blueberries in granola bars; most of the recipes I’ve seen use raisins or dried cranberries instead. Such a fun twist!
Amy recently posted..Being a Big Girl
I got to try these. I was just saying this week that I need to start making our own snacks. Here are our meals for the week
Mon- Britt’s paella it was so good
Tues-we had roasted mushrooms and asparagus with polenta rounds, gnocchi and sauce.
Wed-potato soup
Thurs-leftovers and sandwich wraps
Fri-we have a carnival at school
Sat-homemade pizza rolls
I love granola bars, but in my country finding healthy granola bars is kind of difficult. Love your simple healthy recipe!
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