How to make Natural Grain Bar
Ingredients:
1 cup of whole wheat flour
1 cup of rolled oats
1/4 cup of honey or maple syrup
1/4 cup of melted coconut oil
1/4 cup of chopped nuts (such as almonds, walnuts, or pecans)
1/4 cup of dried fruit (such as raisins, cranberries, or chopped dates)
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the whole wheat flour, rolled oats, chopped nuts, dried fruit, salt, and cinnamon. Stir well to evenly distribute the ingredients.
3. In a separate smaller bowl, whisk together the honey or maple syrup, melted coconut oil, and vanilla extract until well combined.
4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly until a sticky dough forms. If the mixture seems too dry, you can add a little bit of water or more honey/maple syrup to bind it together.
5. Transfer the dough onto the prepared baking sheet and use your hands or a spatula to press it down into an even layer, about 1/4 inch thick.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges begin to turn golden brown.
7. Remove from the oven and let the granola bar cool completely on the baking sheet before cutting into bars or squares. This will help them hold their shape better.
8. Once cooled, store the natural grain bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. You can also individually wrap them in plastic wrap or place them in zip-top bags for added convenience. Enjoy!
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make natural grain bars:
Step 1: Gather the ingredients
- 2 cups of rolled oats
- 1 cup of nuts (such as almonds, walnuts, or cashews), roughly chopped
- 1 cup of dried fruit (such as raisins, cranberries, or chopped dates)
- 1/4 cup of honey or maple syrup
- 1/4 cup of nut butter (such as almond butter or peanut butter)
- 1/4 cup of seeds (such as chia seeds or flax seeds)
- 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Step 2: Preheat the oven
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) and line a baking pan with parchment paper.
Step 3: Mix the ingredients
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, nuts, dried fruit, seeds, and salt. Mix well.
Step 4: Warm the honey/maple syrup and nut butter
- In a small saucepan, warm the honey or maple syrup and nut butter over low heat. Stir until well combined and the mixture becomes smooth. Remove from heat.
Step 5: Add the wet ingredients
- Pour the warm honey/maple syrup and nut butter mixture into the dry ingredient mixture. Add the vanilla extract as well. Mix well until all the ingredients are evenly coated.
Step 6: Press into a pan
- Transfer the mixture into the lined baking pan and evenly press it down using a spatula or your hands. Make sure it is tightly packed.
Step 7: Bake
- Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown.
Step 8: Cool and slice
- Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper and place it on a cutting board. Cut into desired-sized bars or squares.
Step 9: Store
- Store the natural grain bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. You can also freeze them for longer storage.
Enjoy your homemade natural grain bars as a nutritious snack on the go!