Energizing Granola Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. In a large bowl, combine the first 8 ingredients. In a small saucepan, combine water, honey, molasses and oil. Heat for 3-4 minutes over medium until heated through. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla, salt and cinnamon. Pour over oat mixture; stir to coat., Transfer to a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake until lightly browned, 25-30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack. Stir in dried fruits. Store in an airtight container.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Combine the oats, wheat germ, flax seeds, sesame seeds and almonds; spread out evenly on the rimmed baking sheet and toast for approximately 10 to 15 minutes until golden, stirring occasionally and watching carefully so as not to burn.
• In the meantime, in a large bowl combine salt, coconut, cinnamon and dried cranberries; set aside.
• In a large measuring cup place the vanilla, honey, butter and brown sugar. Microwave approximately 2 minutes. Mixture will foam and bubble. Stir to completely dissolve brown sugar.
• When oat mixture is done toasting, transfer to the same bowl with coconut mixture and stir to evenly combine. Add the honey mixture and stir to incorporate.
• Line a 9" x 13" baking pan with waxed paper. Spread the mixture, using the back of a wooden spoon, pressing to create a smooth, even surface. Place another piece of waxed paper over the top, pressing down to evenly compact the mixture. Compacting is important so the bars won't fall apart when cut. (Suggestion: place one pan of same size within the other and press to even out mixture.).
• Refrigerate and completely cool the mixture about 2 hours to assure a clean cut. Firmly press down with a large knife to cut into bars. Do not saw. Wrap bars in waxed paper and store in refrigerator or freezer.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF and prepare a cookie sheet, either use a non-stick or spray a traditional sheet with non-stick spray.
• Mash bananas in peel and set aside. This lets the natural sugars develop.
• Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. First toss oats, oat bran, whole wheat flour, ground almonds, cinnamon, and salt. Add brown sugar and be sure to integrate it evenly in the mixture, use your CLEAN hands. Next throw in the sunflower and flax seeds, chocolate chips, and dried cranberries.
• In a medium saucepan, over low heat, warm the peanut butter. Slowly add mashed bananas, stirring constantly and further mashing any banana meat that needs it. Add vanilla extract and leave on lowest heat for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. You don't want the butter and bananas to burn.
• Add the banana mixture to the dry mixture and stir (or knead) until the two are fully integrated. It should create a sort of nutty dough.
• Form the dough into 24 bars or logs approximately the size of store-bought granola bars. Place on cookie sheet and bake at 350ºF for 30 minutes. Turn the oven off and leave the bars in for another 25 minutes.
• Enjoy one or two and freeze the remainder in freezer bags.