Homemade Granola Bars

I've been doing some experimenting with making granola bars at home. I love to eat them for breakfast but I don't love all the added sugar and processed ingredients that come in the store bought bars. I tried a few recipes that were delicious but had a TON of sugary ingredients like brown sugar, corn syrup, and honey. I may as well be eating a cookie! When I tried to cut back on the honey and/or sugar, the bars did not stay together well. Someone gave me the idea to use eggs, so I cut back on the sugary stuff, added some eggs and it worked well.

I use only 1/4 cup of honey and 3 tbsp real maple syrup, 2 of nature's best sweetners, in the entire recipe. The vanilla extract and cinnamon are great in this recipe because they are ingredients that add a hint a sweetness without actual sugar. These may not be quite as sweet as you are used to with the store bought stuff, but they are breakfast after all, not a cookie. You can add the eggs to the mixture last, and taste the mixture before adding the eggs. If it's not sweet enough for your taste, add another tbsp of maple syrup or a bit more honey. This recipe makes about 10-12 bars and has about 2200 total calories, which is about 183-220 calories per serving. It has fiber and protein, perfect for a breakfast on the go.

Homemade Granola Bars

2 cups oats
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1 cup dried fruit of your choice (I used cranberries and apricots - if you use a larger dried fruit like apricots, chop them up in small pieces so they do not cause the bars to fall apart)
1/4 cup flax seeds
3 tbsp maple syrup
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1 egg, wisked
1 egg white
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix until well-incorporated. Pour into a 8x12 inch baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray and lined with parchment paper to prevent sticking. Bake at 350 about 25-30 minutes until slightly brown at the top. Let them sit out overnight. Remove from the dish by lifting the parchment paper and carefully cut into smaller bars.