Granola Bars

Finding healthier snack foods that work with our diet can be challenging. Processed foods are riddled with MSG and other additives. Fruit and veggies are good but sometimes you just want something like a granola bar! These are based on a recipe from Kitchen Stewardship that I have been using for over a year. They stay together better than most homemade granola bars. However this time when I made them I didn't put peanut butter or raisins in them! They still came out fantastic! I also reduced the butter and added some leftover applesauce in the fridge.

Headache Free Granola Bars

4 1/2 cups rolled oats ( I used 7 grain)
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour, or spelt- I used spelt this time
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup butter, softened*- i used 1 1/2 sticks and half cup apple sauce- adjust flour if too moist
1 cup honey or less and and a little agave

1-2 cups of add-ins- I used sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds and ground flax seed

Directions

Cream softened butter, flour, honey, vanilla, baking soda together with mixer. Add oats and add-ins.
mix until all ingredients are mixed well and moist.

I poured it into a parchment paper lined 9 by 13 inch pan, you can just grease it really well if you don't have parchment paper. Smooth out the batter into a even layer and mash it down so it is all compacted. This makes for a denser granola bar.

Bake at 325 until done in the middle. between 18-30 minutes depending if you put applesauce in or not as it will take longer as it is moister.

LET THEM COMPLETELY COOL before cutting or sampling! They will fall apart if you cut them too early. They also taste better cool!

These freeze well.

Enjoy!