Granola Bars/KidSnack/Healthy Breakfast/No Bake

Oats bar are called granola bars. Oats is a very healthy option for morning breakfast, oats gives constant energy through out the day .Its fattier than other wholegrains like wheat,barley,quinoa,finger millet etc, but its(oats) varied options as cereals, bars and cookies make oats a very famous whole grain.

There are  many variety of granola  bars in stores, but this home made version is healthier than them. We know our body requirements so accordingly we can change the ingredients. Also we can adjust the ingredients to suit our palates. For people without an oven or microwave this recipe is especially for you. This is a simple no bake recipe . .Your kids will love it for sure .You can pack this in tiffin box or in their snack box.

You can opt for dried grapes instead of cranberries,apricots (as there are no takers at home i included it  ).My husband and daughter finished almost 1/4 of it in 1 day ( its so tasty I guess ). Original recipe has only cranberries and badam/almonds. I added dates,cranberries,apricots because we don't eat them often.

Try my other no bake recipe Cocoa fudge

Recipe source:inspired taste

Preparation time:20-25 min(2 hours set time)
Yields:18 medium size bars

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cup oats
• 1/2 cup badam/almonds
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup pitted dates
• 1/2 cup dried apricots
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/3 cup butter
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla essence
• pinch of salt

Method:

• Saute(dry roast) oats for 5 mins in a pan.

• Saute badam/almonds for 5 mins in a dry pan.

• Add butter,sugar,salt,honey,vanilla essence together in a pan.
• Stir until sugar dissolves in butter and all of them comes together .

• Add butter/sugar mixture to oats mixture .
• Mix them together using a wooden spoon or spatula.

• Add dried fruits to oats as well and mix with a spatula or wooden spoon. 

• Press them together in  9 *4 square pan based with aluminium foil /baking sheet.
• Refrigerate for 2 hours covered.
• Cut in to pieces of desired size.
• Store in an airtight container.

Note:

• Choice of dried fruits is unlimited like dry grapes,dates,cranberries,apricots,prunes .So add your choice or add what is available in your hand.
• You can add regular sugar instead of brown sugar .In this case your bars will be white instead of little brown.
• If the bars doesn't stick together add little more oil.
• You can add grated or chopped coconut pieces as well to this bars .
• Adding of butter gives a very good taste to the bars . you can reduce it if adults are interested in these bars.
• If you want to use oven for roasting you can keep the oats in oven safe plate and roast it for 5 minutes or until its little brown.similarly do for badam/almonds also .
• If you want chewy ones you have to keep it at room temperature otherwise keep them refrigerated (in this case bars will be crunchy).

Linking this to parisevent and shruti

Sending these recipe to family foodie event :healthy snack happening at Eatyourveg and bangermash