I love those crunchy Nature Valley Granola Bars, so I thought this would be a good recipe to try. It originated from Americas’s Test Kitchen as granola, and I adapted the recipe, making them into Crunchy Honey Almond Granola Bars. I also used almond extract instead of vanilla, canola oil instead of vegetable oil, added a little extra salt, and left out the cinnamon, since I didn’t want it to take away from the almond flavor. I also added some milled flaxseed for extra fiber.
I liked the way these turned out, so I plan on making them often! Since I eat a lot of granola bars, I’m sure I will save money making them myself! Making your own granola bars is also much more eco-friendly, too, when you think of all the packaging used for those store-bought bars.
This recipe works best in a 13 x 18″ pan; if you make it in a 10 x 15″ pan, the bars will be thicker and harder to cut. Also, you should not use quick-cooking oats—be sure to use old-fashioned oats!
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CRUNCHY HONEY ALMOND GRANOLA BARS by NancyC, adapted from America’s Test Kitchen
Makes a 13 x 18″ pan (about 24 to 30 bars, depending on the size you cut them)
- 7 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup honey
- 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1 to 1 1/2 Tablespoons almond extract (if you just use 1 Tablespoon, the almond flavor will be very, very mild)
- Optional: 1 to 2 Tablespoons milled or whole flaxseeds or wheat germ
- 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped or sliced almonds
Adjust oven rack to the middle of the oven and preheat oven to 375˚F.
Line a 13 x 18″ rimmed baking pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine the oats, oil, and salt, mixing until oats are evenly coated. Transfer mixture to baking sheet and spread into an even layer. Bake, stirring oats every 10 minutes, until pale gold, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove pan from oven and lower temperature to 300˚F.
Combine honey and brown sugar in a saucepan and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly, to dissolve the sugar. Remove from heat and stir in the almond extract.
In large bowl, combine the oats, flaxseed or wheat germ (if using), and almonds, mixing until ingredients are blended well. Then add the honey mixture and stir with a large spoon or rubber spatula until the oats are thoroughly coated with the honey mixture.
Spray the baking sheet, still lined with foil or parchment paper, with non-stick spray and spread the granola mixture in an even layer on the sheet. Spray a large spoon or metal spatula with non-stick spray and firmly press the mixture into the pan. Make a flat, tight, even layer. Bake at 300˚F until golden, about 35 minutes.
Cool granola in baking sheet, on a wire rack, for 10 minutes before cutting into bars with a knife or pastry scraper. Cut bars all the way through (2 x 3″ is a good size), then allow the bars to completely cool. Do not wait any longer than 10 minutes to cut the bars because they harden up as they cool and become difficult to cut.
You can put the bars in a covered container and store for up to 2 weeks.
NOTE: You can make Cinnamon Walnut Granola Bars by substituting vanilla extract for the almond extract, chopped walnuts (or pecans) for the almonds, and adding 1 to 2 teaspoons of cinnamon to the honey and brown sugar mixture.
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Do you like crunchy or chewy granola bars–and do you have a favorite granola bar recipe?
Sharing at Weekend Potluck, Farmhouse Friday, Thursday Favorite Things, Full Plate Thursday, Homestead Blog Hop, LouLou Girls, Creative Crafts, Inspire Me Monday, Happiness is Homemade.
25 responses to “Crunchy Honey Almond Granola Bars”
What a fantastic post! Thanks so much for sharing your delicious bake! =)
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Thank you and you’re welcome! 🙂
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Mmmm, I’m SURE these are delicious. I think my husband would love these much better than store-bought ones. Thank you so much!
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You’re welcome! 🙂 I like them better than the store-bought ones myself! 🙂
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MMmm really good! And I like its so simple to cook! 🙂
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Yes, they are pretty easy to make, which is nice!
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Looks like a batch or two of these need to be made for school lunches. Very nice post! Thank you.
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You’re welcome, and hope you and your family like them! 🙂
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looks yummy 🙂
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I love fresh granola bars! these look really great
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Thanks, Haleigh! 🙂
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I love almond extract! I bet it gives these bars such a great flavor! I do love the original nature valley bars, but I think yours probably taste so much better!
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Thanks, CateyLou! 🙂
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Yummo! I love making granola bars and finding new recipes to try. 🙂
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I love making homemade ones, too–homemade is always best if you have the time! 🙂
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Delicious! I added shaved almond bark during the cooling process, for the sweet teeth in the family.
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Glad you liked the Granola Bars, Alison–they sound good the way you made them!
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Yum, this sounds great and probably taste way better than store-bought. Already decided that I’m making this today!
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Hope you like it, Janine! 🙂
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[…] I stumbled upon this recipe on NancyCreative’s blog, I knew that it was exactly what I was looking […]
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Made these tonight and they are delicious!
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Glad you like them, Julie! 🙂
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What can you use in place of canola oil? Trying to stay away from bad oils…avocado oil?
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Yes, you could use avocado oil or even light olive oil!
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Oh wow, this is scrumdiddlyumptious, with no nasties hidden in there.
I visited you via FARMHOUSE FRIDAY 315
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