Granola seems to be all the rage these days, particularly when it’s in bar form. There are myriad different brands flying about, each hoping for a bite at an increasingly sizeable pile of health-food dung. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, since it shows that people are becoming a little more conscious of their health. However, with a surge in demand comes an equivalent increase in price; a single, top-end, chewy granola bar will set one back in the region of £1. Cumulatively, that could end up being a rather high price to pay to maintain one’s health. Besides, granola bars are, as you shall soon find out, incredibly simple to make.
These granola bars were made with a very keen sense that they should be extremely healthy. Relative to shop bought granola bars they contain very little refined sugar, with most of it coming from the fruit. However, it was more important that these bars should contain as little fat as possible, let alone the abhorrent stuff found in butter. As such, a little rapeseed oil seemed as though it would make a fantastic replacement and indeed it did.
You see, rapeseed has relatively little saturated fat and is crammed full of omega-3. Indeed, even when compared to olive oil it comes up trumps – though it doesn’t quite manage to hold a candle to the taste of the latter. Anyway, this seemed to work rather well, though butter would perhaps make a slightly softer bar. The sacrifice is wholly acceptable, though don’t let me stop you adding butter if you so wish.
For something a little more naughty, please check out my recipes for Chocolate and Hazelnut Flapjacks, Double Chocolate Flapjacks & Sunflower Seed Flapjacks
Chewy Granola Bars
Makes 12-16
Ingredients:
• 200g porridge oats
• 300g dried fruit or nuts, these contained raisins, dates, apricots and almonds
• A pinch of salt
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tbsp ground almonds
• 100g caster or granulated sugar
• 4 tbsp golden syrup, corn syrup will do
• A dash of water
• 3-4 tbsp rapeseed oil
Method:
1. Grease a suitably sized cake tin, mine was roughly 20cm by 10cm, and heat the oven to 180C. Mix together the porridge oats, fruit, nuts, salt, cinnamon and ground almonds.
2. Melt the golden syrup and sugar over a medium heat, add a little splash of water just to bring it all together. Remove from the heat once the mixture has turned clear. Tip the molten into the dry, mix thoroughly and add enough oil to bring it all together. Press this firmly into the baking tray and bake for 30-40 minutes.
3. Once golden brown remove the granola from the oven. Allow to cool completely before turning out. Cut into the desired size and enjoy with a strong coffee, or on the go.
Cost: Oats, as well you know, are a ridiculously cheap ingredient. Indeed, the only expense in this recipe is the fruit, but if you shop wisely this shouldn’t set you back too much either. In total, these granola bars can easily be made for roughly £1.90 – that’s around 7 or 8 times cheaper than anything like these could be bought for in a shop.
111 replies on “Chewy Granola Bars”
Looking wonderful and what a brilliantly simple (and cheap) recipe! I might give this a go and post about it too as I think you’ve really nailed this one! Looks fabulous Nick! Woot!
Thanks, Shira! I hope you try them 🙂
Wow. Totally sick of buying granola bars, they are usually filled with copious amounts of sugar too, and believe it or not, most bars on the shelf in the U.S. are NOT VEGAN. I have to label read like crazy. Even the “healthy brands” have eggs or dairy in them. Weird. Totally making my own this week. Thanks!!!
Really? That’s so silly! You should definitely make your own – mine or not.
Totally silly! Made knock off Larabars instead. http://goodcleanfood.wordpress.com/2012/04/17/banana-bread-larabar-diy-recipe-artisan-bread-pandemonium/
Granola Bars tomorrow! Gotta satisfy the sweet tooth!
Awesome! I shall check them out.
Thanks!
They look yummy! But tell me, do you know if there is a difference between granola bars and flapjacks? I always thought granola was an American brandname…
Thanks, Cathy. I don’t know. I get the impression that granola bars usually have a little more substance to them…
Kaa from The Jungle Book! Hah…he was a piece of work.
And your accidentally (ahem) granola bars, although not for gluttons like me, sure do look very pinteresting. See what I did there?
Actually, originally he was on of the good guys – the film changed him a lot. Haha – very good!
A very happy accident. They might accidentally get made in my kitchen and accidentally get eaten. Do you think maple syrup would stand in for corn syrup?
I’m sure it would be an incredibly delicious substitution!
They look delicious and don’t even mind if they are healthy or not, I’m doing them 🙂
Thanks! they are, so that’s good.
Sorry, I meant I’m making them… the other way sounds let’s say… inadequate
Ahha! Fair enough 🙂
Accidentally vegan – smile – they look delish
I’m glad that made you smile! Thanks, Susan.
They look excellent. I do something similar but I use dried cranberries in the mix. I have to admit to using a lot of butter and ending up with a bar that never dries (until it gets into my arteries). However, they are very tasty and worth the extra 30 minutes on the treadmill that they earn for me.
Thanks! Yes, that sounds great. I don’t think butter would have added much to be honest. I find that using butter in absolutely everything is a little anachronistic to be honest – there are so many viable alternatives these days.
These bars are fantastic! The fact that they are accidentally vegan is awesome too 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks. I’m coming round to accidentally vegan things.
Oh wow. So many great things about this post. The fact that Pinterest is now your mistress (I’m loving it myself). The Kaa reference. Your objection to Facebook (I’m on it, but certainly don’t love it) And yes, these “accidentally vegan” granola bars. Thanks for giving us non-vegans and sometimes fatties the okay to add a little butter, too. Great stuff, man!
Thanks! I’m glad you like my stuff 🙂
These are fabulous. I’m such a sucker for a wholesome DIY granola bar and these look dangerously good.
Thanks, Kate. Me too, they were – I nearly died.
I still haven’t made granola bars , so I have to try this ones! Thanks! :p
Oh you must, Marcia. They are lovely.
Love this idea! It’d make a great snack for my toddler and so cheap too. Thanks for sharing the recipe 🙂
Thanks, Gwen! I hope you both like them.
These look delicious! I’ve made pretty decent granola before, but never granola bars…though I can’t fathom why, because a granola bar would satisfy my quick-and-easy-to-grab-on-a-weekday breakfast needs just as well as all those muffins I make! And these also satisfy my breakfast-must-not-be-full-of-sugar-and-fat requirements. Might have to do a “granola bars for Monday” post one day soon…. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the comments, Tanya – I do like being appreciated. Please give them a go, you’d love them.
Ah, the siren song of Pinterest… I’ve been using it mostly as a “to do” list, pinning recipes I intend to make one day. But also the mean girl in me likes to look at how bad are the tastes of folks I grew up with! Oh, and by the way, your granola bars look great.
Indeed! Thanks, Michelle. I just use it look at pictures – haha.
Terrific!
Thanks, Natalia.
These are lovely looking granola bars — cooked to a perfect deep golden brown. I have avoided Pintrest so far (I don’t need another source of distraction). Let’s see how long that lasts…
Thanks, Sacha. It didn’t last long for me…
These look chewy and great!
Thanks! They were yummy.
These look very nice. 😀 Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks! No problem.
Love this.. I’ve got a few granola bar recipes, but always looking for a new one to try. I can’t stand the cardboard flavored variety in the stores.. So.. Yes, I will follow your Pinterest if you will follow mine, lol.. And Facebook as well, if you choose to sign up I will “Like” you:)
Thanks, Smidge. I think you’d like these. I’ll let everyone know if I join facebook! I think we already follow each other on pinterest.
Like you, I have a Pinterest account too. But I totally draw the line at Facebook. Never had an account and cannot be persuaded to get one now. Be strong, Frugal. It will go the way of MySpace judging from the growing Facebook backlash.
btw, these look terrific by the way — as always!
I have a personal account but find it difficult to bother making a blog one. I don’t like spending time on it as it is. Thanks, Daisy. I think it;s admiraable that you don’t use facebook.
There are a few of us out there who have never been in facebook. Like unicorns! But not as sparkly 😉
Haha! I’m afraid I shall have to make a frugal facebook page soon! Sorry!
I won’t even ask how these bars turned vegan lol… because they still look delicious to me. And I know I’d be happy to snack on them all day
I just thought I’d use oil and not butter and then realised that they were vegan! Thanks, Kay.
I go through phases with Pinterest, but do really love it as a catalogue of recipes to try – saves me bookmarking every single one!
I’m sure I will too. That’s a good use for it, Kate.
I like that it’s accidentely vegan. Nothing should be vegan on purpose. I also seriously like your table by the way.
I entirely agree! Haha, thanks – many people covet my table.
I make my own granola, but I haven’t yet made my own bars… and I really should because I am definitely guilty of shelling out way too much money for a box of them at the store!
Oh you must – they are delicious. Tut!
These look delicious! What a lovely recipe and they’re vegan! Great for the dairy intolerant foodies. I love bakedinpretoria’s comment… nothing should be vegan on purpose. LOL! I’m inclined to agree. Happy Cooking Frugal!
Thanks, Karista. I’m inclined to agree too!
Your accidental vegan bars looks delish. Are they chewy or crunchy?
Thanks, Bam. I think the title may clear that question up – how observant you are.
I have been meaning to make my own granola for months. There’s just too many other things I want to make first! Lately I’ve been reading more granola bar recipes. It’s crazy how easy and simple they are to make, and you know exactly what’s going into them. Yum.
Welcome to Pinterest. It’s my second home on the Internet.
You should make these, Brianne :D. Pinterest is slowly becoming my second home too.
Some work so diligently at cooking vegan and you, clever Nick, happened on it by ACCIDENT! I do like the sounds of this and will give it a go, maybe using date or coconut sugar in place of white. I’ll follow you on Pinterest! Follow me back! 🙂
Yes, I try not to be brilliant – alas it’s difficult. Haha, if only. That’s a good idea. I shall certainly follow you, Spree.
You crack me up. “Pinterest has become my mistress.” So true, so true.
These bars look fabulous, and I can’t wait to try them! With butter, probably…
I do try! :D. I’m glad you like the look of them.
Delish and healthy! Will give them a try!
I hope you do, Mama!
These look tasty and delicious 🙂
Thanks, Leslie.
I can NOT wait for the day that the Frugs is *finally* on Facebook! And I am going to find you now on Pinterest. Look at you! You are branching out and joining us losers. First with granola bars, then with Pinterest. What’s next? Looks like you are going to have to start taking pictures of the meals you eat for an entire day. That’s the true food blogger way 🙂
I’m excited about this granola bar recipe, however. My friend was asking if I knew any recipe that I trusted that was good and now I can forward this to her…
Haha! the time will come, I expect. It loathes me to join people like you haha. I blog most things I cook to be honest… I’m glad you have that much faith in me!
“Accidentally vegan” is hilarious and wonderful. I feel so meat-centric in my inability to understand how that can happen.
Haha, Thanks, Christopher. Don’t be meat centric – it’s bad for you 😀
Haha. I try. I definitely don’t eat as much meat as I used to. I guess when I really think about it, a lot of the stir fries and pastas I do are vegan, so long as I don’t add some chicken or something. Basically, for quick dinners sometimes, I just sautee some veggies in olive oil, and toss some pasta in with another little splash of oil, toss to coat, and nom.
these look SO good! i’m always on the hunt for new granola/granola bar recipes 🙂
Thanks, Sally! These won’t let you down.
Gonna try these with honey I think, then they will be accidentally unvegan.
That would be lovely. It;s so silly that honey isn’t vegan. If you take that approach then surely nothing that grows is vegan since bees pollinate…
Gosh these look so good and good for you. I love that the are “accidently” vegan. I love those kind of accidents 🙂
Thanks! they were. Haha, they are good accidents indeed.
Wonderful! Thank you so much for posting…so thrilled about your happy “accident” …more thrilled that you decided to share 🙂
Haha! No problem. there’s nothing quite like a happy accident.
I was very excited to see this post, partly because of my own dislike of how much granola bars cost, and secondly to see if you gave in and just used a whole lot of butter (and I’m talking upwards of 250grams) to bind them (makiing them not so healthy). Bravo to you on both fronts!
Haha – I did not, butter is SO bad for you… Thanks, Aimee.
Ooo now, these are a blast from the past – I used to make these sort of bars all the time back in my dieting days – I used maple syrup for sweetness and apple purée for added moisture. Must make some more for days when I’ve run out of cereal and need brekkie on the go!
That sounds like a delicious idea! Fantastic, Jo.
My roommate will be very happy if I make these for her! Thanks for the inspiration!
Then you must! No problem!
These look delicious. I’ve been looking for a good granola bar recipe–can’t wait to try it!
You’ll love it! I promise 😀
These look quite tasty. 🙂 They may make a breakfast appearance here soon. 🙂
Thanks! I hope they do, they were such a good start to the day.
[…] I saw a recipe for granola bars on Frugal Feeding (and saw how lovely those granola bars turned out), I was sure that I had to make them. […]
Not only do they sound delicious, they are delicious!
We went tame the first round and didn’t add anything but coconut to accommodate the younger palates in the family. I used more oats instead.
We used honey and brown sugar for sweetening. We used coconut oil for the fat though I might try butter next time for the flavor. Blacklisting butter is old school by the way. It’s rather good for you. http://www.naturalactivities.com/2012/05/only-real-butter-thank-you-very-much.html. At least, that’s what the “latest research” is showing.
I used coconut oil to grease the pans which was a mistake. It tends to soak in instead of creating a barrier so they stuck like crazy. Next time I will line the pans with PAM or butter greased aluminum foil.
Thanks for a great recipe! I’ve been wanting to make granola bars for a very long time.
Fantastic, Jennifer. I don’t blacklist butter, life’s too short. But considering it unhealthy definitely isn’t an anachronism. In simple terms, fat, it’s a lot worse for your health than rapeseed oil is. It may have positive effects, but it is undeniable that saturated fat is negative. I think that you should read what that research says as: ‘Butter is good for you, if eaten in moderation’.
True. I eat everything in moderation so did not think about stating that caveat.
There actually is some debate about saturated fats being bad for you. That’s why I said “latest research”. Scientists are always changing their minds and doing new studies when evidence starts to show that the previous study may not have been entirely accurate.
I would tend to agree with the new thought that saturated fat is not necessarily bad and has positive benefits on cell structure and health. My parents, my siblings and I grew up on whole milk from the dairy, butter, and eating meat. We are all lean, have low blood pressure and no cholesterol problems. Of course we are all moderates too and try to eat a balanced diet including whole grains, nuts, veggies, and fruits.
So, who knows…
Thanks for a great blog.
The problem with research like this is that there’s always ‘latest research’ that isn’t fully tested or proven. I tend to think that it doesn’t matter, moderation is key, which is something you seem to adhere to. Rapeseed is undeniably better for you, even from the point of view that it doesn’t have as much fat in it. That’s why I used it. Thanks, Jennifer.
These granola bars are amazing! I made them the other day and we just couldn’t stop eating them. As we say in our house, they were very ‘morish’, i.e. if you ate some, we couldn’t stop there, we had to eat more and more of it 🙂
Thank you so much for the recipe, I’m off to make some more!
Thanks, Gwen! I’m so glad you made them! I found them moreish too. You should add your own little twist 🙂
[…] The exploration of new food combinations is all well and good, but finding new applications for old pairings can be equally exciting – after all, they are old and well-used for a reason. As I expect we all know, it is eminently possible to unite chocolate and hazelnuts to devastating effect and this flapjack recipe, in my opinion, certainly does so, taking their relationship to stratospheric levels. However, be warned, no quarter is given to healthy eating here – these are full-fat and flavourful. I direct those of you looking for something a little easier on the waistline to this recipe for chewy granola bars. […]
I’d substitute the rapeseed oil (YUCK as it is chemically extracted) with Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Not always, the rapeseed oil I use is pressed.
what can i buy to substitute the golden syrup, or do you know an Italian substitute for this ingredient?
Ummmm! Try some delis, I’ve done a little research and apparently they often stock it over there.
These look really good! Looking forward to trying it and checking out more of your recipes! Thanks for visiting my blog and for the like!
Good Morning Nick!
These sound so good! (would love pics though)
Thank you that there are no coconut or dates!
You have made my day.
Also I do have to say that I love your sense of humour.
I’m Canadian with British Roots and I definitely lean heavily to my British side.
Keep the recipes coming.
Have a Joyful Day :~D
Charlie
Hey, Charlie! Thanks. I think my humour appeals to most – Americans find it cute… or something.
Nadejda:
You could use regular corn syrup, or even make your own, But there really is no substitute for Lyle’s golden syrup.
IMO it is the best on the market.
You could maybe order it online. I hope you find it.
Have a Joyful Day :~D
Charlie
[…] is butter. Butter helps soften a flapjack, making them far more pleasant to consume (though my chewy granola bars do deviate). Banana has a similar effect, allowing for the volume of butter to be reduced […]