Healthy Homemade Granola Bars

When the afternoon cravings kick in, I sometimes wander the food court in search of a healthy snack. Though I practically know the (poor) selection by heart, I still naively wish to find something new and healthy that would hit the spot.

Last week, I decided that now was the time to take matters into my own hands. The following recipe for homemade granola bars is healthy, and incredibly delicious. Crumble a bar over some yogurt and fruit for a quick breakfast, or just savour it on its own as a healthy snack or dessert.


Healthy Homemade Granola Bars

Dry ingredients
3 cups whole grain flakes (I used a combination of oat and spelt flakes, but you can also choose a variety of other grains such as rice, barley or kamut)
1/2 cup currants or raisins
2/3 cup chopped almonds
2 tbsp sesame seeds
4 tbsp sunflower seeds
4 tbsp pumpkin seeds
2 tbsp ground flax seeds
4 tbsp shredded coconut
1 tsp cinnamon
Pinch of salt

Wet ingredients
1/2 cup canola oil
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup maple syrup
2 tbsp natural peanut butter
1 tbsp molasses
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp lemon zest

Preheat oven at 350 F. Line a 13 x 9 inches baking pan with parchment paper.

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl and set aside. In a small saucepan, heat oil and add the other wet ingredients. Stir until smooth and pour over dry ingredients. Mix well to combine.


Turn the mixture into the baking pan, and press to form an even layer. Bake for 25 minutes, and allow to cool completely before cutting into bars. Keep refrigerated (also freezes well).

Note: You can adapt this recipe to your own taste, by replacing the currants with other dried fruits such as apricots or cranberries, and by using nuts instead of seeds. Use your imagination!

Recipe adapted from Alive Magazine