Whole Grain Granola Bars

Granola bar success!

William often has a Clif bar and some fruit for breakfast.  And Clif bars are pretty good for you.  But, as with all store bough processed foods...who knows what's in there.  "Natural flavor" is pretty ambiguous.  So I decided to make my own granola bars that were lower in white sugar, and heavier in the grains.  They have just been taste-tested by William, who declared them "better than the ones you buy at the store."  And they weren't too hard to throw together, either!  Here's how I did it:

2 cups oats

1/2 cup wheat germ

1/2 cup oat flour (just whir some oats in the food processor until they're flour-like)

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 tsp salt

4T brown sugar

3/4 tsp cinnamon (I decided at that last minute not to add this, because William is not a fan, usually.  But, I think it would add some yumminess if you like cinnamon!)

1/2 cup honey

1 egg

1/2 cup peanut butter

2 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup applesauce

1/4 cup almonds (or other nut, but this is William's favorite)

1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 and grease 13X9 inch pan.

In a large bowl, mix oats, wheat germ, flours, salt, sugar, and cinnamon (if using).  Make a well in the center and add honey, egg, peanut butter, vanilla, and applesauce.  Mix well.  Fold in nuts and chocolate chips.  Bake for 30 minutes.  

Tomorrow I am making Wm's healthy, flour-free (gluten-free if you get gluten-free oats!) chocolate chip cookies. Yummmmm!