Making my own snacks gives me complete control over the ingredients. I love to use local honey in this recipe for homemade granola bars, which are lower in calories than most store-bought options, and are high in fiber. And the cranberries give this snack that sweet-tart combination I enjoy.
This was a new recipe for me, and to be completely honest, if I made these again, I would need to tweak the recipe a little as they turned out to be pretty crumbly. I also lined my pan with parchment paper.
Thanks to our friends at North Dakota State University Extension Service for this printable recipe.
Honey-Cranberry Granola Bars
1/2 cup honey
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon oil
1-1/2 cups quick oatmeal oats, uncooked
1-1/4 cups toasted rice cereal
1-1/4 cups dried cranberries
Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Combine honey, sugar, and oil in a small sauce pan. Heat over low heat until well mixed. Mix oats, rice cereal, and cranberries. Add honey mixture and stir until combined.
Pat firmly into an 8-by-8-inch baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes; press firmly into the bottle of the pan once more, and bake for 5 more minutes. Cool completely. Refrigerate at least one hour for easier cutting.
Makes 16 servings.