Meatless Monday: Homemade Granola Bars

Here is a recipe from my cousin found at Savoring Earth's Flavors.. I'd been really wanting to find a homemade granola bar recipe that my kids would like since we don't have access to a Trader Joe's anymore. My kids love the "This fruit walks into a bar" from Trader Joe's.

Oatmeal Raspberry Bars
3/4 cup softened butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt (or less) *I really recommend less*
1 1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1 (10 oz) jar raspberry preserves

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.

Beat softened butter with a mixer until smooth and creamy. Add brown sugar and mix well.

In a separate bowl mix together flour, baking soda, salt and oats. Stir well to combine. Add the butter mixture to flour mixture, stirring until well combined.

Grease a 9 X 13 inch baking pan. Press half the oat mixture into the bottom of the baking pan. Spread the raspberry preserves evenly over the oat mixture. Sprinkle remaining oat mixture over the top of the preserves. Bake 18 - 20 minutes at 400 degrees. Remove from oven, let cool slightly. Run knife around edge to loosen. Cool on a rack before cutting into squares.



I've made these twice so far. The first time, I didn't have any quick oats, so I subbed the instant oatmeal I had on hand. It was Maple Brown sugar. I didn't account for the fact that this is already sweetened and the bars turned out way too sweet!!'

Then I tried them with plain oats and peach preserves. Much better and less sweet! My husband and I tear them up. The kids....well, they're too used to store bought. They need to warm up to these. Punks.