Description
Ina Garten’s granola bars combine wholesome ingredients for a delectable homemade treat. Crunchy oats, nuts, and sweet honey create a perfect balance of flavors that satisfy snack cravings without compromising nutrition.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (480 ml) old-fashioned oatmeal
- 1 cup (120 g) sliced almonds
- 1 cup (80 g) shredded coconut, loosely packed
- ½ cup (80 g) dried cranberries
- ½ cup (80 g) chopped dried apricots
- ½ cup (80 g) chopped pitted dates
- ½ cup (60 g) toasted wheat germ
- ⅔ cup (160 ml) honey
- 3 tbsps (45 g) unsalted butter
- ¼ cup (50 g) light brown sugar, lightly packed
- 1 ½ tsps pure vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- Toasting Foundation: Spread oatmeal, almonds, coconut, and wheat germ on a sheet pan. Roast at 350°F for 10-12 minutes until golden, then transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- Syrup Creation: In a saucepan, melt butter with honey, sugar, vanilla extract, and salt over medium heat, stirring until smooth and fully combined without boiling.
- Ingredient Fusion: Pour warm syrup over toasted dry ingredients, gently folding in dates, apricots, and cranberries to ensure even distribution. Mix thoroughly.
- Pan Preparation: Reduce oven temperature to 300°F. Line an 8×12-inch baking dish with parchment paper and transfer the mixed granola mixture, pressing firmly to create a compact, even layer.
- Baking Process: Bake for 25-30 minutes, watching for a rich golden-brown caramelization that signals perfect doneness.
- Cooling and Setting: Allow granola block to cool completely in the pan for 2-3 hours, enabling the bars to firm up and solidify.
- Finishing Touch: Remove the block using parchment paper edges, place on a cutting board, and slice into uniform bars using a sharp knife.
Notes
- Precision Matters: Measure ingredients exactly to maintain the perfect balance of sweetness and texture in these granola bars.
- Toasting Technique: Roasting oats, almonds, and coconut intensifies their natural flavors and creates a deeper, nuttier profile for the bars.
- Syrup Secret: Heat the butter and honey mixture gently to prevent burning, which can quickly transform your delicate granola bars into a bitter disaster.
- Pressing Principle: Compress the mixture firmly and evenly in the pan to ensure cohesive bars that hold together without crumbling when cut or eaten.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 30 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg