One of the most common ingredients in granola bars is sugar. Luckily, there are several substitutes, including maple syrup, date paste, flaxseed meal, and organic agave syrup. You can even use pure liquid monk fruit instead of sugar. In addition to sugar, some homemade granola bars contain pure vanilla extract and ground cinnamon. If you are using salted nut butter, leave out the sea salt.
Nut butter
When preparing a homemade granola bar, it’s important to use natural ingredients. This way, the bars don’t have any artificial ingredients that may cause them to crumble. They should be kept in the fridge or freezer. Before eating, remove the granola bars from the fridge and separate them with parchment paper. They will stay fresh for about a week. You can also make some variations, like reducing the amount of honey or almond butter.
If you don’t have any honey or can’t stand the taste of honey, you can use date syrup, agave syrup, or coconut oil. Sunflower seeds also work. Coconut is a common addition to homemade granola bars, but it’s not necessary. To avoid the coconut taste, you can also add one or two teaspoons of agave syrup. You can also use natural nut butter, like sunflower seed butter.
Date paste
You can make date paste in the food processor by pureeing a Medjool or honey-sweetened date. Add some salt and cinnamon. Blend until you get a thick paste. Add the remaining ingredients and process until well-blended. Press the mixture into an 8×8 inch baking pan. Bake at 170C for 20 to 25 minutes. Enjoy! Let it cool completely before you eat it.
Another alternative to sugar is to use dried prunes instead of dates. You can purchase dried prunes in California. They can also be blended just like dates. These can be used in place of maple syrup. If you’re sensitive to salt, you can reduce the amount. It won’t change the texture of the bars and still taste delicious! Try these recipes and enjoy the healthy benefits of homemade granola bars!
Brown sugar
The first step in making your own homemade granola bars is to measure the ingredients. Generally, you will need a 9×13 baking pan. Mix the oats, almonds, flax seeds, and chia seeds, and then combine them. Add the oil and stir until they are combined. Pour this mixture over the dry ingredients, stirring well. Refrigerate until firm. Once cool, break up the clusters and serve as bars.
To make your own granola bars, you can add ground flaxseed. Ground flaxseed is similar to a flax egg, which is a type of seed that can add fiber to your recipes and bind ingredients together. Add it to the mixture of honey, brown sugar, butter, and vanilla extract. You can also add almonds and oats to your granola bars.
Flaxseed meal
One of the easiest ways to make a healthy snack is to add a flaxseed meal to your granola bars. You will need 1 tsp (15 mL) of flaxseed meal per bar. This recipe makes eight bars, which each contain a serving size of one Tbsp. To store your granola bars, place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or freeze them for up to three months.
To make a granola bar that is packed with good for you ingredients, you need oats, a flaxseed meal, and flour. You’ll also need coconut, almonds, and chia seeds. You can also add cacao nibs or chocolate chips. Once you’ve prepared your ingredients, combine them with a fork. Add the peanut butter and honey, and stir until combined.
Unsalted butter
Start by toasting oats and nuts. Add optional ingredients like raisins, cranberries, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds. You can also add mini chocolate chips or chopped dried apricots or pineapple. Finally, add the unsalted butter. Once all the ingredients are combined, place the baking pan in the oven for 25 minutes. After the baking time, cut into 12 bars.
To enhance the flavor of your bars, add chia seeds. You can also use hemp or flax hearts. Salt is a flavor enhancer and can be used instead of sugar. Dried fruit can be any size, but preferably in small pieces. If using nuts, chop them into small pieces. Using unsalted butter will keep the bars moist. Using unrefined butter will also prevent them from sticking together.