Cranberry Granola Bar Squares

Finding a nutritious and yummy snack for my kids can be a frustrating task.  Most foods in the grocery store snack aisle are full of salt, high fructose corn syrup and other processed ingredients that I can’t pronounce. Not to mention, they’re expensive!

Let me share a tasty and healthy granola bar recipe that I love serving my kids.  Not only is it full of real food ingredients, it’s cheap to make too!

Cranberry Granola Bar Squares are a nutritious, moist, chewy granola bar square filled with oats, crispy rice, and dried cranberries.

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This granola bar recipe uses eleven ingredients, but don’t let it scare you. It’s very easy to throw together, and completely worth the extra effort of pulling those 11 ingredients out of the pantry.

Cranberry Granola Bar Squares also naturally gluten-free and dairy-free too!

I love how customizable these Cranberry Granola Bar Squares are.  Use this recipe as jumping off point for your family’s favorite flavors and don’t be afraid to be creative. Try adding your favorite nuts, or different dried fruit, or for a really special treat throw in a few chocolate or peanut butter chips.

Big fan of cranberries? Enjoy a cranberry chicken salad wrap for more sweet & tart goodness.

Cranberry Granola Bar Squares:

• rolled oats
• crispy rice cereal
• brown sugar
• cinnamon
• all-purpose flour
• dried cranberries (such as Craisins)
• salt
• honey
• egg
• vegetable oil
• vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 11×7 baking pan.

In a large bowl, mix the oats, crispy rice cereal, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and dried cranberries.

Mix in the oil, honey, egg, and vanilla.

Tip: use the same measuring cup for the oil and honey.  Measure and dump the oil first, then the honey.  The leftover coating of oil in the measuring cup will allow the honey to easily slide out. No sticky mess!

Stir well.

Spread the mixture into the 7×11 baking pan, using the back of a large spoon to press the mixture down evenly. We prefer thick square granola bars, this pan size makes the bars big and chewy. If you prefer thinner, crunchier granola bars use a 9×13 pan instead.

Bake the bars until they are golden brown, for 30 to 35 minutes.

Allow the bars to cool for about 15 minutes, and then cut them into squares while they are still warm.

If your children love these Cranberry Granola Bar Squares as much as mine, you’ll be lucky to have any left by the time they reach room temperature.  But, if you have leftovers, store the granola bar squares at room temperature in an airtight plastic container to keep them moist and chewy for several days.

Delicious & Nutritious Chewy Granola Bar Squares

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A nutritious, moist, chewy granola bar square filled with oats, crispy rice and dried cranberries.

• Author: Amanda Land
• Cook Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 30 mins
• Yield: 12 servings 1x

Ingredients

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• 1 3/4 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup crispy rice cereal
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 7×11 baking pan.
2. In a large bowl, mix the oats, crispy rice cereal, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and dried cranberries.
3. Mix in the vegetable oil, honey, egg, and vanilla extract.
4. Using the back of a large spoon, press the mixture into the greased pan.
5. Bake until golden brown, for 30 to 35 minutes.
6. Cut bars while still warm (but not hot).

Nutrition

• Calories: 3353
• Sugar: 308g
• Sodium: 1892mg
• Fat: 129g
• Saturated Fat: 11g
• Unsaturated Fat: 110g
• Trans Fat: 1g
• Carbohydrates: 529g
• Fiber: 24g
• Protein: 40g
• Cholesterol: 186mg