Granola Breakfast Bars

(12 servings)

  • For Granola:
  • 2 cups quick or old-fashioned oats
  • 3/4 cup almonds or walnuts - coarsely chopped
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar - packed
  • 1/4 cup apple juice
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 Tablespoon canola or vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup raisins (optional)

  • To Make Bars:
  • 1 and 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 cup light brown sugar - packed
  • 1/2 cup butter or margarine
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
First, make the granola:

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

Lightly grease a wide cooking pan.

Combine the oats and nuts in the pan and set aside.

In a medium sauce pan on medium heat, combine all remaining granola ingredients. Stir about 5 minutes until sugar is completely dissolved. If it starts to boil, reduce heat immedietly.

Pour mixture over oats and nuts in the pan. Stir up the oats and nuts, so everything get a little coated.

Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes - stir once every 15 minutes for even cooking. Remove from oven. If using raisins, stir them in right after you remove the pan from the oven.

Allow granola to cool at least 10 minutes.

Now, make the bars:

Increase oven temperature to 350 degrees.

Prepare a 9 x 13 pan with a light coating of butter or cooking spray.

In a medium mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until you get a wet sand-like texture. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until fluffy.

In a seperate large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, salt and cinnamon.

Combine the two mixtures in the large bowl and mix well.

Stir granola into the bowl.

Spread the mixture evenly in prepared pan.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until lightly browned. If a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, it's done.

Remove from oven and allow to cool. Cut into 12 bars (or fewer or more depending on the size you want).


Great homemade on-the-go breakfast bars... so much better than packaged granola bars.


Mr Breakfast would like to thank Sisterbreakfast for this recipe.

Recipe number 1676. Submitted 3/23/2006.