| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 4 hr 5 min |
| Prep: | 25 min |
| Inactive: | 3 hr |
| Cook: | 40 min |
| Yield: | 12 to 16 bars |
Ingredients
- 2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- 1 cup shredded coconut, loosely packed
- 1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup chopped pitted dates
- 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 8 by 12-inch baking dish and line it with parchment paper.
- Toss the oatmeal, almonds, and coconut together on a sheet pan and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl and stir in the wheat germ.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F.
- Place the butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook and stir for a minute, then pour over the toasted oatmeal mixture. Add the dates, apricots, and cranberries and stir well.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Wet your fingers and lightly press the mixture evenly into the pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until light golden brown. Cool for at least 2 to 3 hours before cutting into squares. Serve at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 14 servings |
| Calories | 280 |
| Total Fat | 11 g |
| Saturated Fat | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 45 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 30 g |
| Protein | 4 g |
| Cholesterol | 7 mg |
| Sodium | 82 mg |
Reviews
This was a delicious recipe, but it had way too much sugar for me and my husband. Both of us HAVE to watch our blood sugar and, although I made slight adjustments to the recipe (Splenda Brown Sugar Blend and reduced sugar dried cranberries), it was still just a sugar bomb! I might make it again, but I’m going to play with a Splenda simple syrup to substitute for the honey, and maybe use different, lower sugar dried fruits or even add protein (increase the nut content, or possibly add unsweetened protein powder). Still…it’s SO delicious!
The perfect recipe delicious
The first time I made these I felt they were way too sweet so I left out the brown sugar the next time and they are delicious! I don’t have wheat germ so I left that out too but otherwise made as directed. Letting them cool for 3 hours is definitely the key to cutting them into bars. I’ll never buy granola bars again!
These are way too sweet. I even added quinoa, chia seeds and flax seeds on top of the specified dry ingredient mixture and it could still really use almost 2 additional cups of oats to spread out the sweetness because the mixture from the saucepan was so much that it over-coated in sticky sweetness. Kinda bummed because I made them as a healthy breakfast snack and the sugar content really negates the health factor on these.
I’ve made this recipe many times from one of Ina’s cookbooks. I watched the video of Ina making them. So I’m confused by some comments that mention Rice Krispies. Rice Krispies? Where is that coming from? And one person only used maybe 2 or 3 of the same ingredients as in the recipe. Those reviews shouldn’t even be posted.
Made these last week to bring to customers and some for the house.
My son devoured all of them in record time
My customers loved these as well. Followed to the letter but omitted the apricots since I had none on hand
I used plant butter instead of real since that is what I use at home. Making more today!
Thanks Ina
My son devoured all of them in record time
My customers loved these as well. Followed to the letter but omitted the apricots since I had none on hand
I used plant butter instead of real since that is what I use at home. Making more today!
Thanks Ina
It’s a great recipe. I had read previous reviews before making and did do a few suggestions. I made sure to pack bottom of the granola pan before baking. When it came out after 30-32 min I again used a cup and packed it again then allowed to cool and refrigerated 3 hours. They came out of pan easily and cut and packaged all intact. They were fantastic!
So easy to make and yummy!
I use this recipe as a guideline I didn’t have any brown sugar so I substitute maple syrup I didn’t have any dates so I skipped that. And I added coconut which I’m not sure was in the recipe and chocolate truffles for a little hint of chocolate. I used all types of nuts pecans walnuts cashews and almonds. So as a guideline this was delicious. Oh yes I didn’t have any puffed rice or brown rice or Rice Krispies so I just skip that too so basically I used the base of this recipe to make some great granola bars thank you Ina.
I’m allergic to coconut. Any other suggestions on what to add to this recipe in its place? I split the difference between almonds and oats but I want another flavor or texture to add.