6.2.10 Strawberry Granola Squares
Without fail, I eat a granola bar every week day. And even though this is a post about granola bars, and I know I will want a granola bar tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow (and the day after…), I must admit I have been eating granola bars from a package for an uncountable number of years. Shameful I know. But I am attempting to change that. Today. Recognition is the first step, no?
In theory, a granola bar sounds a lot healthier than pancakes or a muffin. Unless of course you actually flip over the box. Ugh. It is seriously scary. I don’t know what more than half of the ingredients are—even when I go for the “healthiest” bars in the market.
Awhile back I received a Taste of Nature bar in the mail (some promotion from my husband’s gym, I believe), and without even seeing the ingredients, I pronounced it The Most Wonderful Granola Bar I Had Ever Tasted. Chunks of fruits and nuts, not too sweet—I should have know the ingredients would be show worthy. Upon finding the website, and seeing that yes, the ingredients were show worthy (I could pronounce them ALL!), I set out to purchase brown rice syrup. (Let me just stop right here and tell you that if these bars, or something even remotely similar, were available at the market, this post may never had come to light. But no, the shelves are stocked with sugar and preservative filled bars, so alas, I must get my Greys-Anatomy-watching-butt off the couch and take my well being into my own hands.)
So, with good intentions, I purchased brown rice syrup. And with not-so-good intentions, it sat on my pantry shelf for 4 months. But, today is the day I make a change! You are all witness. If you ever see me in the store eyeing the boxed bars once again, please feel free to raise your eyebrow in shame.
Strawberry Granola Squares
makes 15 squares
3 c old-fashioned oats
2 c slivered almonds
1/4 c wheat germ (or flax seed)
1 t orange peel
1 c brown rice syrup
1/4 c honey
1 t vanilla
1 t salt
2 c chopped strawberries, excess liquid drained*
additional add-in ideas: 2 T seeds (sesame, sunflower…); shaved dark chocolate
Preheat oven to 350F.
On a baking sheet, combine the oats, nuts and wheat germ. Transfer to oven, and bake 7 minutes, stirring once halfway through cooking time. Transfer to a bow, and stir in orange peel. Reduce heat to 300F.
In a small saucepan, combine brown rice syrup, honey, vanilla and salt, over low heat. Cook 5-7 minutes, until hot and liquid. Pour over oat mixture, and stir until well combined. Gently stir in strawberries.
Spoon mixture into a 9”x13” non-stick (or parchment-lined) baking pan. Spread evenly, and press firmly into the pan. Transfer to oven, and bake for 40-45 minutes, until lightly browned. Allow pan to completely cool, and cut into squares. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week or freeze individual squares.
* I used fresh strawberries, which results in a square which is a bit crumbly. Dried fruit works great if you are looking for a crunchier bar. Just allow less cooking time if you substitute dried fruit.
Reader Comments (32)
Great timing! I've also been eating granola bars from a box for years, and just this week began searching for recipes to make my own. Love that this recipe doesn't use two sticks of butter like so many I've seen! Where did you find the brown rice syrup?
Oh these look great! berries are almost in season here. I am going to have to try these, but maybe maple syrup instead of rice sryup, I still haven't aquired a taste for it.
Hi Nicole- My regular market had it by the honey/maple syrup (also near the rice) but something like a Whole Foods would def have it as well.
I have a neglected jar of brown rice syrup in my cupboard, what an excellent way to put it to use. So many possibilities here!
this looks yum, I've been searching for a good granola bar recipe! Probably a good idea to use organic strawberries if you can ... they are on all the Worst 10 lists I think for spraying ...
You must have read my mind because I've been looking for a good granola bar recipe. These look delicious! It is rather scary to read the box of the store bought ones and find out what you've really been eating all this time. Well now that you posted this I'm all out of excuses and will be making my own from now on! Beautiful photographs, as well.
HI again, I've been meaning to ask as well - what type of camera do you use for your beautiful pictures?
making these this weekend at the cabin at the lake.
will report back on my endeavours!
Hi Amanda! I shoot with a Canon Rebel and a Sigma Macro lens (for the food shots).
these sound fantastic, erin! i've been meaning to make my own bars. i bet you could individually wrap and freeze these for instant healthy snacks!
Thanks Erin! I'm trying to convince hubbie that I need a decent camera (this point and shoot is killing me!)... so collecting as much evidence and info as possible :)
Wow Erin these look simple & delicious. Mmmmm! Can't wait to try them.
Yu-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-m! I am so making these! Right up my alley... all about brown rice syrup these days as I try to kick the sugar habit. This couldn't have come at a better time:)
Dearest sweet Erin, ths looks soo yummie and i do adore Strawberry! Kim and i are thinking of including Strawberry somwhere in our wedding theme. :) Thanks so much for sharing this lovely recipe with us! Have a lovely merry happy weekend and love to you!
These look so good! I've been on the hunt for more great granola bar recipes, this one will be added to the list for sure! I love that you added fresh strawberries to them.
First of all - SO great to finally meet you in Boston! Thanks for taking time out of your busy weekend for coffee with me! It was a highlight. Up until recently, I ate a Luna Bar for breakfast every single day. For 10 years. Ugh. Now I only eat them occasionally. These look about 1 million percent better.
I heart brown rice syrup! I make some granola balls as I call them with sunflower butter, they a great size to just pop in your mouth, I will try them with your recipe this time around, looks fab!
These look super-yummy and pretty, Erin--much better an pre-packaged! I, too, have long eaten bought granola treats, but haven't made my own, thinking it'd be too much hassle or require too many special ingredients... I stand corrected and inspired! Happy Days :o)
Finally!!!! I healthy granola bar recipe! I'm also a daily granola bar eater and I always feel guilty about the amount of sugar and preservatives I'm consuming. I've searched high and low for a good recipe, and even tried creating my own, but they've all been flops. I can't wait to try this!
Gorgeous!!! I LOVE the vivid red of the strawberries! :)
I just bought a huge carton of strawberries. May give this a try!!
I always think I want granola bars but the storebought ones are usually so sweet and not delicious. These homemade ones look so good though and I love that you used fresh strawberries and wheat germ. I really love wheat germ... I just added it to some scones in place of some of the flour and they were so good. Must use it more!
mine never took "square" form, just mushy granola. it tastes good - but I'd like to know why it didn't work. I cooked it longer than you suggested. I'm baffled...wondering if you have any thoughts.
Amy, I really pushed mine into the pan to get them to stick together. Since the fresh strawberries omit juices, this adds alot of water, so I tried to make sure mine were drained as well. I will work on this and see if there is anything extra that could be added. Maybe a T of flour?
Thanks Erin! Like I said, the flavor was great, I probably didn't smush them enough.
This recipe looks so great. I generally prefer softer granola too, so sounds good to me. I can't wait to try it!
This looks like a wonderful snack to make for my kids!
i have needed this recipe, thank you! I too, like the convinience of having bars on hand, but dont like what is in most of them. These look wonderful! I may even throw in some chocolate chips for good measure :)
I'm planning to make these this week but I'm swapping strawberries for a mix of blackberries and blueberries since that was what was available at the local farmer's market this week (I arrived late and there were no strawberries left). But I'm excited to try this recipe because it sound so tasty!
Christie let me know how they turn out! A few people were having a bit of trouble with them sticking, so try to let the excess juices run from the berries and add flour (or an egg?) if needed...
Erin, just today I discovered your AMAZING selection of recipes--I'm on my annual "end-of-summer-holy-buckets-here-comes-school" binge and linked my way onto your site. Very well organized and asthetically--fab! Anyway, enough of the blowing sunshine...I have a question about this recipe, "Can you substitute Agave for the honey in this recipe? I'm following the DSP (Diet Solution Plan) and want to keep ingredients low on the glycemic...any thoughts?
Hi Carol, So sorry about the delay! Thank you for the sweet comments. You can def swap agave for the honey here. I was thinking of doing that next time as well. I do find agave a little less sticky, so just keep that in mind though. Enjoy!
Just made these this afternoon. They smelled amazing baking in my oven. I did add an egg, 3 tbsp sunflower seeds and 1/3 cup chocolate chips. They are soft and did fall apart easily. But my kids and I just ate them with a spoon.