So Simple Granola Bars

So simple and so good – rolled oats, pecans, dried cherries, and miniature chocolate chips come together in this kid-approved, after-school snack.

Apr 07, 2022

If you’re looking for a kid-friendly after-school snack, I’ve got an idea – So Simple Granola Bars. Pair them with low-fat yogurt or a glass of milk, and you’ve got a nutrient-packed, pre-dinner treat.

The star ingredient in today’s recipe is rolled oats, also referred to as old-fashioned oats. Oats are a whole grain, meaning they contain all three parts of the grain – the bran, germ, and endosperm. And, each part offers beneficial nutrients.

Refined grains (think wheat flour or white rice) lose their bran and germ layers during refining or milling. The result is a grain stripped of most of its fiber, as well as nutrients like vitamin E, magnesium, and zinc.

From a health standpoint, people who consume more whole grains tend to have a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, digestive disorders such as diverticulosis, and possibly some forms of cancer.

For the best results when making today’s granola bars, opt for old-fashioned rolled oats. Quick-cooking oats will also work if that’s what you have on hand.

To your health,

Darlene

SO SIMPLE GRANOLA BARS

Yield: 20 servings

Serving Size: 1 bar

Prep: 15 minutes

Ready: 40 minutes

INGREDIENTS

Parchment paper
Vegetable oil cooking spray
3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2 cups crispy rice cereal (such as Rice Krispies)
1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips
1/2 cup pecan halves, chopped
1/2 cup dried cherries, chopped
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 can (14 ounces) fat-free sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13-by-9-inch pan with parchment paper, leaving an inch of paper hanging over longer edges of pan, forming lifting handles. Spray parchment paper with cooking spray.
In a large bowl combine oats, rice cereal, chocolate chips, pecans, cherries, and salt. Add condensed milk, and vanilla and gently mix.
Spread mixture into prepared pan, pressing into an even layer. Bake until edges are golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes (less time for chewier bars and more time for crunchier bars).
Once cooled, use parchment paper handles to lift bars out of pan. Cut into 20 equally-portioned bars and serve.

Nutrition Information per Serving

171 Calories, 5 g Total fat, 1 g Saturated fat, 0 g Trans fat, 0 mg Cholesterol, 66 mg Sodium, 30 g Total carbohydrate, 2 g Dietary fiber, 19 g Total sugars, 15 g Added sugars, 4 g Protein, 0 mcg (0%) Vitamin D, 70 mg (6%) Calcium, 1 mg (6%) Iron, 187 mg (4%) Potassium

Adapted from Allrecipes.com and tested by Darlene Zimmerman, MS, RD