Thick and Chewy Granola Bars

Granola bars - or the quickest way to clean out your pantry.  This recipe calls for 2 to 3 cups of dried fruit or nuts and I managed to empty out 5 almost-empty bags of stuff and gain a good corner of the pantry back.

I made these for Steven's first soccer match and they actually won. And yes, Steven is the adult I take care of.  They were devoured. I think people thought they would healthy because they were homemade, but I can add in just as much corn syrup and sugar as General Mills. Mine taste better though.

Thick and Chewy Granola Bars
Adapted from Smitten Kitchen

• 1 2/3 cups quick oats
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup oat flour (or 1/3 cup oats finely ground through a food processor)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 to 3 cups dried fruit and nuts, I cleaned out my pantry of all leftover open bags of fruit and nuts
• 1/3 cup peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 6 tablespoons melted butter
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 1 tablespoon of water

Preheat the oven to 350F and line an 8" x 8" x 2" with parchment paper long enough to cover two parallel sides. Grease the parchment paper and pan where the parchment paper doesn't cover.

Mix the dry ingredients in a big bowl and the wet in a smaller bowl. Then combine in the big bowl until crumbly. Spread and push down in the parchment paper lined pan.  Use parchment paper or saran wrap to press down and pack.

Bake for 30 minutes until the top starts to brown - they will still be chewy on the inside. Cool for 20 minutes on a cooling rack until the pan is room temperature then cool in the fridge until the bars are cool.  

Pull parchment paper up to remove the bars then cut with a serrated knife.  Then use parchment paper to squeeze the bars to form into bar shape.

Keep in an airtight container or individual plastic bags in the refrigerator. I hear they also freeze well.