Granola Bars

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown, 2005

Show: Good EatsEpisode: Power Trip

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (217)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(217)

Cook Time:
40 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
16 (2-inch) squares

Times:

Prep: 20 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 40 min
Total:: 1 hr 0 min

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Ingredients

8 ounces old-fashioned rolled oats, approximately 2 cups
1 1/2 ounces raw sunflower seeds, approximately 1/2 cup
3 ounces sliced almonds, approximately 1 cup
1 1/2 ounces wheat germ, approximately 1/2 cup
6 ounces honey, approximately 1/2 cup
1 3/4 ounces dark brown sugar, approximately 1/4 cup packed
1-ounce unsalted butter, plus extra for pan
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
6 1/2 ounces chopped dried fruit, any combination of apricots, cherries or blueberries

Directions

Butter a 9 by 9-inch glass baking dish and set aside. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Spread the oats, sunflower seeds, almonds, and wheat germ onto a half-sheet pan. Place in the oven and toast for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

In the meantime, combine the honey, brown sugar, butter, extract and salt in a medium saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook until the brown sugar has completely dissolved.

Once the oat mixture is done, remove it from the oven and reduce the heat to 300 degrees F. Immediately add the oat mixture to the liquid mixture, add the dried fruit, and stir to combine. Turn mixture out into the prepared baking dish and press down, evenly distributing the mixture in the dish and place in the oven to bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Cut into squares and store in an airtight container for up to a week.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Granola Bars
Ronald Vicotria, KS 11-03-2009
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Verry Good
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I can't have to much sugar so, I used sugar free pancake syrup instead of honey and, I made my brown sugar with splenda and... molasass. I used dried dates and the Granols bars are verry good.Read more
recipe Granola Bars
Denise Williston, ND 10-29-2009
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Great
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Making these for the 2nd time. Husband loved them. No problem with them falling apart. I made sure to use the weight... measurement. Going to try without the nuts as I don't like nuts. to press down I just buttered parchment paper and then used another flat pan to press hard. Will keep making much better and cheaper than the ones in the store.Read more
recipe Granola Bars
Amber Chicago, IL 10-21-2009
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SOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOD
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made these today and they turned out beautifully. I didn't have any issue with the dry to wet ratio that some people... mentioned. I measured everything with the usual cups because I don't own a scale... yet! I did add a dash of cinnamon to the syrup and I think it really added to the flavor of the toasted nuts and grains. For fruit, I used a berry medley which included strawberries, cherries, cranberries and blueberries. Really, you have got to try this one!Read more
recipe Granola Bars
Liz Wichita, KS 10-13-2009
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One of my go to staples
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I have made these 7-9 times since first viewing the episode. I've changed up the recipe almost as many times and never been... disappointed. The first time or two they did not hold together well, but then I started pressing them into the pan more firmly and they do great. Even when they didn't, I crumbled it into a bowl and poured milk on top for a great morning (or anytime) cereal. I always leave out the brown sugar and usually cut down on the honey. Not because I found them too sweet but because I try to limit my sugar intake. I also always look for dried fruit with no added sugar. That may help those that find them too sweet. I have sometimes added natural apple sauce and/or prune baby food in place of some of the honey. I also never use butter and frequently add natural peanut butter. I also always add flax seed meal in place of some of the wheat germ. This recipe seems to be very accommodating to various needs. One of the keys does seem to be following with recipe using the given weights. The first time I tried it, I used the dry measurements provided and eyeballed the rest. Since then, I have gotten a kitchen scale and it makes a big difference. These bars have served me well camping, traveling, and day-to-day as a mid-day snack or after a workout.Read more
recipe Granola Bars
Yvonne Lehigh Acres, FL 08-10-2009
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really good!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Today I made these for the first time, they came out perfect. I saw the show where he made them, which may have made it... easier. You need to pack the mix in the pan with another pan so that it is pretty tight, and after baking wait for them to totally cool before you remove from the pan and cut up. I used a 9x13 pan and cut into 24 to make it even less calories. BTW in the show he tells how much cal, carb, fat, etc they have. And to Tim, the ingredients are listed for the WEIGHT and they are correct. You can't compare a cup of nuts and a cup of flour and expect them both to be 8 oz. So if you have a scale to use its easier to make them correctly or use the dry measure that AB gives in the recipe, I'm sure that's correct too. Way too many people have made these successfully for the ingredients to be wrong. One last thing, in the show he uses Sunflower seeds in the shell, I wondered how I would like that, but even my husband who doesn't like granola bars likes these.Read more
recipe Granola Bars
tim san jose, CA 07-30-2009
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Awsome recipe & very good ingredients but VERY POOR IN MEASUREMENT OF DRY/LIQUID INGREDIENTS..
Rated: 2 stars out of 5

I'm still learning how to cook and bake just like everyone else.... Without these professional chef recipes' to follow, I'll... be nothing. So, far so good for me. I can taste this recipe by looking for the specific ingredients and the quantity of each ingredient in the product. I haven't made or use this granola bar by Alton Brown yet. But I can surely tell that this granola bar will be a hit for everyone to enjoy and talk about if the DRY & LIQUID MEASURE EQUIVALENTS ARE CORRECTLY CALLED FOR. This is what I know: 2 cups = 16 ounces (dry measure equivalent) and 1/2 cup = 4 fl. oz. = 120 or 125 ml/cc That's the reason why some folks granola bars are too sweet and to moist... I think because the dry/liquid measure equivalent are ways off... Please do not get upset, just email Alton to VERIFY the measurement of his tasty granola bar recipe and do it again. Believe me, I used Ina Garten granola bar's recipe turned out just like I wanted it to be. So, don't give up! I've have used so many different recipes by various chefs for my baking and cooking and they turned out perfect. My guinea pig roommates, friends and co-workers ate them like crazy. Something I like to share... We live and learn! Read more