Jo-Ann's Power Bars
These power bars are delicious and much more nutritious than most granola bars. They are very filling, too. Instead of using dried mixed fruit, feel free to substitute any of your favorite dried fruits. Same goes for the nuts.
These power bars are delicious and much more nutritious than most granola bars. They are very filling, too. Instead of using dried mixed fruit, feel free to substitute any of your favorite dried fruits. Same goes for the nuts.
Wonderful! I made a batch with exactly what you had for my hubby and I made a lower carb version for myself. They both turned out awesome! FYI...lower carb I omited the fruit and flour. I added two scoops of low-carb protein powder and 2 T peanut butter. They were great. I'm going to experiment with this base recipe using bananas, blueberries, dried cranberries....wow the options are endless. Thanks so much!!! A++++++
Read MoreWell, Power Bars is an accurate description. These are healthier than the store-bought power bars, but they don't taste much better and they have that same weird texture.
Read MoreWonderful! I made a batch with exactly what you had for my hubby and I made a lower carb version for myself. They both turned out awesome! FYI...lower carb I omited the fruit and flour. I added two scoops of low-carb protein powder and 2 T peanut butter. They were great. I'm going to experiment with this base recipe using bananas, blueberries, dried cranberries....wow the options are endless. Thanks so much!!! A++++++
I've made these several times over the past two weeks and have really enjoyed being able to swap out the major flavor makers. The first batch was by the recipe using dried cranberries for the fruit and sliced almonds for the nuts. I added in a little coconut and left out the sunflower seeds b/c I didn't have any. They came out good - but these are VERY HIGH FIBER! Just so you know! My husband didn't care for the flavor of the first batch. He requested a second which I just made with: pumpkin seeds, dried goji berries, ground flax seeds(in place of 1/2 of the flour), a little coconut and a handful of whole almonds. There wasn't enough crunch in the first batch for him - so these are perfect. I almost doubled the cinnamon too since there are a lot of flavors going on and I think it goes nicely with the nuttiness of the flax. I made a batch with chocolate chips and coconut (coconut oil in place of vegetable) for my 5 & 3 year old with great success - next time I'll leave out the cinnamon with that one though. I also made a tropical version for me with dried papaya, pineapple and coconut. Thank you for a great basic recipe that is SO quick, easy and healthful. Play around to make it suit your taste and health needs!
Way good! I doubled the applesauce and bars really had a great texture. Used sesame seeds, almonds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, raisins. Would be great with any seed/nut/dried fruit combination.
I love this recipe. My husband is on his way home from work he gets very grouchy because he is hungry. I hated spending the big bucks on a box of air (granola bars) and he was never satisfied with them. I came across your recipe and have made them ~ well I make them 3 times a week and he eats them on his way home. My husband loves these and says they are filling. I will never buy another box of air for the big bucks agian!!This recipe is so versatile that I make it several ways. Thanks for the great recipe!!!
Keeeeeeeeeper!! Love it. Very chewy and not too sweet. I used chopped dates, which were somewhat sweet and dried cranberries. I could taste the cinnamon, very good. I'm actualy about to make them again right now. They work well as snack for school. I will try some changes like sesame seed or poppy seed, prunes or figs and peanuts. The one thing I changed was the amount of apple sauce. I increased it to 3/4 cup. It was easy to spread. Thank you.
I make this recipe at least once a week!Love this recipe. I have 5 kids, so I like to make my own granola bars for cost savings and better nutrition. This is an easily adaptable recipe. I've used all kinds of fruit purees instead of apple sauce. Some favourite combinations are cherry/ coconut/ white choc chip (just a few for fun!) and pumpkin puree with pumpkin seeds and pumpkin pie spices. We are a nut free home and school, so I've tried lots of things to "fill" out the bar, including flax and all kinds of other seeds, soy nuts, Grape Nuts, bran buds, coconut, you name it. Almost everything has worked! I double the recipe and use a parchment lined 9 x 13 pan, then after it's baked and cooled for about 10 minutes, I flip the whole thing out and cut into bars. I let those cool a little longer, then wrap them individually so they are ready to go into lunches or as snacks. I get about 18 -24 bars this way.
these were excellent! i omitted the vegetable oil and added maple syrup instead for added flavor.
I love this recipe! I've made this recipe a dozen times, using different dried fruit, omitting the nuts and adding chocolate whey-more protein (I'm a sports-nut). It never fails, never is dry and using chocolate covered raisins make them a bit sinful but always delicious!
Instead of a bag of dried fruit, I snipped dried apricots and added some dried cranberries; chocolate chips in place of nuts. I only had salted sunflower seeds, but I thought they were fine in the recipe. These are equally good as bars or crumbled as granola... (a tip for making a better bar shape: press on the top of the bars immediately after removing from the oven with the back of a fork or spatula. When they are cool, they will stay together better.)
I make these once a week and they are better than any store bought bar, IMO. Changes I make: protein powder for flour, add 1TB almond butter, reduce brown sugar to 1 TB, use slivered almonds, pumpkinseeds, flax seeds, seasame seeds. Omit dried fruit. Love them!!!!
These were really easy to make. I substituted some ingredients to make a higher protein, lower calorie bar. I left out the Grape Nuts, oil, brown sugar, seeds, dried fruit and nuts. I added an extra egg, used 15g of artificial sweetener, 150g blueberries, 100g of apple sauce, 20g of sesame seeds and 20g of peanut butter. The texture came out quite moist, so next time I might leave out some of the apple sauce to achieve a crunchier bar. With my substitutions, it comes out as 104 calories per serving.
Yum! Made a chocolate version so I changed things a bit: 1/2 cup of oats, 1/2 whole wheat flour, 1/4 cup of cocoa, 1/8 cup of flax seed, 1/8 cup of wheat germ. Kept the grapenuts the same, and omitted the cinnamon for vanilla extract. Lined with parchment paper instead of foil to save on spraying w/ oil (less fat). Awesome! The combinations are endless....
I am so....glad to find this recipe. I was recently in Canton Ohio on business and we ordered lunch from a neat health conscience resturant that had Power Balls. We had them and they were wonderful....this sounds as it could be the same thing and I will make them today. Thank you.
These are amazing! Overall, great nutrition - depending on how much sugar is added via the dried fruit - very filling and EPIC tasty (my stepson's review). The modification I made was inadvertent because I wasn't paying attention: I used 1/3 cup of organic unsweetened apple sauce and 1/3 cup of raw honey. It made the bars moist and chewy so I will keep making them this way!
This is great! A friend who is hypo glycemic loved it as it didn't affect her sugars and is now also making this recipe all of the time. I did sub out one key thing - I used coconut oil instead of the vegetable oil. Melted it in the microwave first and it turned out great. Much healthier this way! I also added dried cranberries with orange flavor and it is super yummy! Oh, and I doubled the recipe and put it in a 9 x 13 pan - greased with coconut oil and without the aluminum foil. No problems getting them out of the pan. Easy and yummy!
Excellent and very easy to customize to your own tastes! I subbed a few items to ou families taste...omitted oil and used peanut butter instead. Used protein powder instead of wheat flour, doubled the cinnamon and doubled the whole recipe to fit a 9x13 pan. Wonderful!!!!
They taste really good. I tried them with dried cherries for a variation and these were good too. One note though, made as per the recipe the calories are closer to 300, not 197. They do have 6 grams of fibre though so that's pretty good for breakfast.
Awesome bar! I didn't have the cereal so I threw in more oats. Left out the oil and didn't use as much dried fruit. I didn't think they would hold together but they do. I only cooked mine for about 18 minutes. I love that there is no butter in this recipe. Thanks!
These were wonderful...be sure to let them set. The night I made them I wasn't that impressed. They sat in the fridge overnight and I was amazed at how great they were the next day.
Best healthy bar recipe on this site. Was scared of dry & over baked bars so only baked for 20 min & then they sat in the pan for 10 min. Only changes - Used motts no sugar blueberry applesauce & only a half cup of dates & dried cranberries. came out chewy, tasty & delish. So much so I have no desire to look for other recipes like this. Thx for sharing!
I modified this recipe but still want to give it a 5-star rating for the inspiration. ;) I used 2 cups of Almond Maple Granola (from this website) to replace the oats and nuts, one tablespoon of canola oil, and added 1/4 cup each natural crunchy peanut butter, chopped dates, cherry Craisins, and 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips. They are a hit with my husband who thinks they taste like oatmeal cookies, and they will provide a nice energy boost for him as a mid-morning snack.
These are absolutely delicious and so nutritious - one of my favorites! A great snack after a work-out with lots of water to replenish lost energy stores!
I used one half cup chopped dry roasted peanuts instead of sunflower seeds/walnuts and because I did not have mixed dried fruit, I used organic raisins. I made no other changes or subtitutions. We all loved these bars. Both my kids came home from school and asked for one to snack on until dinner and my husband asked for what was left to be packed in his lunch for tomorrow. Success!
Excellent Recipe! Had to make one change with the sugar as I didn't have brown sugar and didn't want to use white, so I used 1 tbsp of maple syrup. It's possible the recipe could have done without the sugar entirely considering the sugar from the dried fruit! Dried fruit I used was: apricots, cranberries, raisens, dates, and cherries. Am looking forward to trying others! Will be making again!
These are kind of hard to review because for taste I'd probably give it two stars. I thought they where not sweet enough and tasted kind of bland, the kids hated them....but, husband loved them, along with a few other adults I offered them to. Very easy to put together and set up well, plus they are so healthy! These are great for breakfast on the go, instead of the junk my kids want to grab--that's why I'm going to 'play' with this recipe and try adding 1/2 c. chocolate chips and/or some p'nut butter. I did end up wrapping each one individually and stored in the refrig.--I did think they tasted better after the 2nd day.
Another way to change it up is to substitute baby food for the applesauce (may I suggest apricot). It’s cheap and easy to come by. Such a versatile recipe, I love it.
Well, Power Bars is an accurate description. These are healthier than the store-bought power bars, but they don't taste much better and they have that same weird texture.
These bars are excellent! I used milk chocolate chips, currents, and dried cranberries, I also added hemp seed for a nutrition boost. I also leave out the sugar, the honey and applesauce is enough.
I really loved this! My husband is doing the 24 day challenge through advocare so I've been trying to find new snacks for him and this is perfect! I just added special k protein+ cereal to it since I don't have grape nuts, threw in some coconut and soy nuts in there too. Also, I added more honey than it called for cause I read that honey by itself is great to take when you need a boost of energy. Added some quinoa too. Didn't have any applesauce around so that was left out. Maybe next time. Super yummy!!
I love this recipe! It's so versatile and so much better than boxed granola bars... I like to skip the cinnamon and put in a tsp. of vanilla, 1/2 cup peanuts, 1/4 cup chocolate chips and 1/4 cup coconut or raisins. Also good is 1/4 tsp. almond extract, 1/2 cup toasted almonds and 1/2 cup dried, chopped cherries. And I like to put in mixed dried fruit, cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. vanilla and walnuts, too. They're awesome - you can have a different bar every time!
Fairly decent flavour but certainly not a bar you can eat on the run. Made them twice but will not be doing them again.
I thought these were exceptional! I decided to do 7oz of mixed fruit and 1oz chocolate chips. I splashed some extra oats and applesauce in to balance that out. I also added flax and chia seeds. I cut and wrap a bar for myself each morning for breakfast! VERY GOOD!
These are awesome! So easy to make and delicious! I made two batches. The first I substituted maple syrup for the vegetable oil. I used raisins and cranberries for the fruit. The second batch I made I substituted 3 T. peanut butter for the brown sugar, then I added raisins and chocolate chips for a gorp-like bar. I also doubled the applesauce in the second batch and it came out great! I will make these again. Next I want to try a tropical fruit medley with pineaple, mango, and apricot.
This is a great base recipe!! I usually double the recipe and make a few changes. I use egg whites instead of a whole egg (1/4 cup egg whites = 1 egg), add a mashed banana, add coconut, and a mixture of flaxseed meal, wheat bran, and wheat germ. I also add chocolate chips to half of the mixture for my boyfriend. Thanks!!
My kids love these and really feel like they are getting a treat. Some things I changed, though, based on what was in my pantry & personal preferences: 1. Did not have Grape Nuts or sunflower seeds, so excluded those; 2. Used 3/8 C applesauce-no oil; 3. Substituted 1/4 C Molasses for the brown sugar; 4. Used 1/3 C Craisins; 5. Added a pinch of salt and 1/4 C Wheat Germ. Next time I might even add a little vanilla... Lots of possibilites! Great recipe to get creative with. Thanks for sharing!
Such a simple recipe! I didn't have any Grapenuts, so I did 1 c quick-cooking oats, and 1/2 c rolled oats. I added dried cranberries and chopped up almonds, and it was so yummy. I only added 1 T of sugar, because I was worried they would be too sweet with the dried fruit. I'll likely add the full amount next time, but they were still delicious. The bars definitely taste better after sitting the fridge for a while, so be patient! It's worth the wait!
Really great base recipe. I made the following minor substitutions/changes: (1) Used garbanzo flour instead of wheat to make them gluten-free; (2) used agave sweetener instead of honey and omitted the brown sugar; (3) used a mixture of almonds, cashews, pepitas, raisins, cranberries, mini white and chocolate chips, and dried pineapple; (4) added a heaping tablespoon of natural style peanut butter; (5) used Barbara's multi-grain cereal; (6) greased the foil with coconut oil. I will never buy another store-bought granola bar. Love that I can control the fat and sugar in these and there's no preservatives!
I love this! I had to use white flour but I am using wheat next time. I am not a fan of dried fruit so I cut it all up and just added less. I love having one of these bars and a bowl of pineapple, blueberries, & strawberries. I love it!
Delicious, easy to make, and WAY better for you than any breakfast bar you can buy @ the store. Mmmm!! I've recommended this one to just about everyone I know. I doubled the nuts, using both pecans and walnuts, and added a bit of coarsely chopped chocolate to the last batch and it turned out great. THANK YOU!!
Based on other reviews, I omitted the vegetable oil and brown sugar, and added 2/3 cup of applesauce. I also did not have a wheat/barley cereal so added a bit more flour (about 1/4 cup). Based on others suggestions I added 2 tbsp. peanut butter to make sure they were chewy enough. The raw dough was the consistency of cookie dough. These turned out fabulous! Based on my changes, i think they needed a bit more sugar and will try again with chocolate chips. It is a great recipe for those that prefer a chewier granola bars.
If you have have a gluten free life this is perfect! It is a great alternative for the "granola" bars at the store (some have hidden wheat or processed in a wheat environment ), and healthier. All of us in the family love them. I use rice flour for a gluten free recipe. I also omit the cereal,at no expense to the flavor, and use raisins for the fruit. My son now feels like he too can enjoy what the other kids are having... they are jealous because his is better than the store bought bars :-)
These are delicious! My changes: 1 tbs sunflower oil, 1 tbs sesame oil (omega 3's!) used almonds instead of sunflower seeds. Added 2 tbs coconut flakes. doubled the cinnamon. Substituted half the flour for flax seed meal (protein!) for the fruit....I did 3 tbs raisins and 3 tbs dried papaya. Amazing! I can't wait to experiment with other nuts, fruits, extracts, etc. Thank you:D
These are simply fantastic without deviating from the recipe. I've made them several times now and I like to add flax seed, almonds, pecans, and two tablespoons of peanut butter. I leave out the vegetable oil and drop in a tablespoon of canola oil, but none of those are really necessary...these are great as is and certainly don't need any assistance from me. Thanks for the recipe Arielle.
I love these bars!! I add so many things to them and they just always taste wonderful. My favorite mix-ins are chopped almonds, sunflower seeds, raisins, craisins and flax seeds.
These power bars are very satisfying! I've made them several times and find myself wanting to eat them all throughout the day. Instead of vegetable oil, I add a little more applesauce and honey. It seems to work out just as well. I'll be continuing to make these for a long time!
I like how these take very little of the ingredients required - so a small amount of stuff in the cupboards produces on-the-go breakfasts for a week! Saves me $$$ at the quick market, too! I made the base of this exactly as called for but changed the mix-ins (kept the walnuts, put in 1/2 c. shredded coconut & 1/2 c. choco. chips.) and did not get the "chewy" texture others reported. However, Hubby & I enjoy the 'health bar' flavor and texture. My second batch I removed the br. sugar and replaced it with molasses and traded half the wheat flour for buckwheat flour. I added Chinese Seven spice, toasted sesame seeds and almond slivers. I traded a quarter of the oil for toasted sesame seed oil. Lastly I added dried cranberries and golden raisins. What a neat flavor! I'm already on my way to having this recipe memorized while my third & fourth batches bake :)
Wow! Delish! These are so easy and quick to make. I added a 1/8 cup of craisins and a TBSP. of Gr. Flaxseed. I will definately being making lots of these bars! Thanks for the great recipe! :)
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for this recipe. I've been trying different power bar and granola bar recipes for years, but never found the right mix. Until this one, that is!! This recipe is so versatile!! I made lots of changes from other suggestions of reviews, but it's wonderful every time, no what I add to it. Left out the oil, added more applesauce, used protein powder instead of flour, used organic stevia instead of brown sugar. And then it's a "free for all"! What ever nuts, grains, seeds or fruit I happen to have on hand. Again, thank you so much, the search is over for the perfect power bar.
Just made these...trying to find a breakfast bar and this is it! I did change it up a little. I substituted the wheat flour for this peanut butter powder(picture), I used coconut oil for the veg oil. Almonds instead of walnuts and pecans instead of sunnies.
My only regret is that I didn't try these months ago! I've been looking for something to replace store-bought granola bars and these are perfect. I can make a double batch and put half in the freezer. Amazingly, they're almost too sweet for me with all the dried fruit. I followed the recipe almost completely. Left out the sunflower seeds and subbed raisin bran for the Grape-Nuts, as someone else suggested. Next time I'll experiment, for sure, including leaving out the brown sugar. Be sure not to overbake--that would make these bars dry.
This recipe is amazing! Not only delicious and a huge hit at our house but it's hugely versatile. Taking tips from other reviewers, I was able to custom fit the bars to our tastes and what I had on hand. I left out the nuts (inadvertently) and used molasses in place of the oil. Substituted All-Bran Buds for the GrapeNuts and a combination of ground flax and protein powder for the flour. I'll definitely be making these again.
I was looking for a filling breakfast bar to take to work. I have tried others and this one is by far the best. Tastes good and holds together well.
A nice tasty snack! I used Craisins for the dried fruit, substituted apple butter for the applesauce, granola for the Grape Nuts, and omitted the sunflower seeds. We love having granola bars in the house I think it would be fun to experiment with different variations of this recipe to find your favorite combination. Thanks!
I definately did something wrong. Mine didn't stick together! I did substitute brown sugar splenda, so that might have been why? I used Fiber One instead of Grape Nuts and yogurt covered raisins instead of dried fruit. It still came out DELICIOUS! I just put it in separate bags to take as trail mix. I will try it again without substitutions and hopefully they will make bars!
I made these without all the nuts and dried fruit cuz I didn't have any and used 2 cups of unsweetened wheat puffs instead of the 2 other cereals and I added chocolate chips. I also followed another reviewer that said to add 2 TBS of protein whey powder and 3 TBS of peanut butter. My husband, who usually can't stand anything made with oatmeal ate the entire pan. He said they were far better than any granola bar from the store. I also used a 9 in pan lined with sprayed foil and didn't have a problem with sticking. Great recipe. Can't wait to try with fruits and nuts.
Yep, 5 stars. It's easy and they did not stick around. Even my picky husband enjoyed them and managed NOT to forget them in the morning on his way to work.
OMG these are so good I just ate 2 of them. I did not want to use nuts because I have young children, so I subbed 1 1/2 cups of coconut flakes, raisins & chocolate chips for the fruit & nut portion. I also used old fashioned oats since I do not have any quick. Oh, also left out the cinnamon and instead added a dash of vanilla. Next time I will try adding mashed banana instead of the oil & may try adding flax seed or wheat germ. Love these! Thanks so much.
Very tasty! I've decided to start eating clean, and this was one of the first recipes I reached for. I've had it in my Recipe Box for a little while, and was impressed by the reviews and the versatility of the recipe itself. Made my first batch with sliced almonds instead of walnuts, and dried mixed berries. I also used the recipe for Sara's Applesauce (found here at Allrecipes) rather than store-bought. Since that has cinnamon in it, I halved the cinnamon for the power bars. Thanks for such a great base recipe! I will definitely be making this again!
Very filling and not super sweet... just what I wanted! I used dried cranberries instead of dried mixed fruit. I only had a really big bag, so I used about 1-1/2c and it was perfect. They were a big hit! Update: I saw a commercial for the weight loss aid "Full Bar" and was curious to see what was in them. To my delight, the ingredients are VERY similar to the ingredients in these bars. It would be much less expensive alternative to purchasing bars on the Internet!
These granola bars are really good! I used raisins and chopped prunes for my fruit, so I think it made it too sweet with the honey and brown sugar (I don't like much sweet anyway). I used chocolate whey protein instead of flour and unsweetened applesauce in place of the oil. I will try different fruits next time and for sure I will use more nuts and less fruit and probably not use any brown sugar at all. Thanks for the recipe, Arielle! :)
I love this! I didn't have apple sauce so substituted peanut butter.
This was a pretty good recipe however it came out very sweet. Next time I will add only 1 tablespoon brown sugar or possibly omit it completely. Also to suit the recipe to my nutrition desire I will add 1 cup of applesauce so that I can use only 1/2 tablespoon of oil. I will also try adding an extra egg and and extra cup of grapenuts so that there will be more protein. The cooking method in general (time, temp etc) was perfect and they came out nicely. I will definitely use this recipe again as it is a great base that can be "tweeked" time and time again to keep from getting bored. THANKS JO-ANN!!
A really good, versatile recipe. I used all organic ingredients to really boost the nutritional value. I also added a bag of trail mix that had nuts, coconut, and dried fruit all in one. It is very hearty and a great energy snack for my active family.
Everyone who had one loved them! My parents are in the vending business and so they were very interested in these "homemade granola bars"! Thanks for sharing!
These have a nice flavor. I substituted more applesauce for the oil, pecans instead of walnuts, and dried cranberries instead of the mixed fruit. They are tasty, easy to make and healthy.
Excellent! I replaced half the wheat flour with rice protein (extra nutrition) and used pecans, sesame seeds, cranberries and raisins (everything else exact). They are wonderful and my 3 teenagers like them as well. One hint, they taste not so good out of the oven but when you chill them over night in the fridge....SO good!! I can't wait to try some variations. This is a keeper and I will keep on hand for quick breakfasts on the go. Thank you!!
These were FIRE. Easy to make and tasted awesome. Like others, I substituted chocolate protein powder for the flour and omitted the oil and brown sugar. I added dried pineapple for the fruit and some sliced raw almonds and flaxseed. Turned out great and can make so many different variations so it will never get old
This is so good you may as well just double the recipe and use a 9 X 13 pan! I used Old Fashioned rolled oats with no problems, omitted the oil and increased the applesauce. I used the regular amount of honey but decreased the brown sugar and probably didn't need any sugar at all with the fruits I used. Dried apricot, cranberries, raisons, and coconut were my additions. I was impressed how they came out looking like those fancy Kashi granola bars in the box.... only much better!
Very good! Was not crumbly at all, taste was good. I didn't add as much dried fruit as suggested (I didn't have enough). If I would have, it would have been top notch. I added about half and it was a mix of dried cranberries and pecans. Will keep the pecans in, just add more of the mix next time. Thank you for the recipe!
These turned out pretty bland. Perhaps adding a cup of chocolate chips to the mix would make them taste better.
The only change I made to this was to sub pecans for the walnuts. This is a great pick me up and very tasty. I will be making this again. Thank you for sharing it.
I was looking for a way to use up grape-nuts and found this. Delicious and very easy to make.
Really delicious. High in calories, but great for a camping power breakfast. Carried me through a long bike ride! I really like the tart flavor of cranberries instead of dates.
These were great. Everything in it is so healthy. I omitted the cereal, upped the oats, upped the applesauce (organic, unsweetened), used agave instead of honey, skipped the brown sugar, oil & sunflower seeds. I added flax seeds instead and only used dates and raisins. Added a pinch of sea salt, some almonds and....bittersweet chocolate pieces. Yeah, I went crazy and put everything in there but they are soft and delicious. Can't wait to try a different combo next time!
I absolutely LOVE these! For my taste I leave out the fruit and use equal parts of almond, walnuts, and sunflower seeds. I also add in a ton of ground flax seeds. I'm happy to have something healthy for on the cheap. These are wonderful to make on your Sunday and divide equally for each day of the work week and take to work for a snack or on the go breakfast. People don't even know they are homemade!! Thanks for sharing...I will continue making time and time again!
This turned out great! Awesome meal substitute if you missed breakfast! I think the recipe could do with a pich of salt, though I made it as is except without cereal and used almonds and mixed health seeds (sunflower, pumkin seed, linsee, sesame seed) and mixed dried fruit and walnuts. You can actually use anything as long as the base recipe remains the same, because this works perfectly. Thanks for a great recipe :)
As many others did, I used what I had on hand for the flavour, increased the amount of oats and had to omit the Grape Nuts since they are impossible to find in my area. I used dried cranberries, chocolate chips, and slivered almonds as well, and increased the applesauce by a bit to make a chewier bar. I also doubled the recipe and used a 9x13 pan- and these made 16 standard-sized bars. The flavour? I don't see kids loving them, since they aren't as sweet as boxed granola bars. Might be a bit bland to some. To us, it reminds us just how much sugar the boxed kind must contain, and it makes us shudder! Great as breakfast-on-the-go. Will make again! Thanks for the recipe.
I make these weekly instead of buying expensive bars. I use a variety of mix-ins, depending on what I have on hand. Our favorite is probably coconut, almond, and chocolate chip. If I add flaxseed and chia seed, I add a little more applesauce, some baby food prunes, or an extra egg white for additional moisture. I double the recipe but use only 1/4 cup of brown sugar. It fits nicely in a 13x9 pan for 24 bars. Love this recipe!
This is a great recipe! I used protein powder instead of flour, and also added flaked coconut, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and craisins (instead of the dried fruit). They turned out delicious! There are lots of things you can do with this recipe. I will definately be making these again!
These were fantastic! My kids gobbled them up and you really could use just about any kind of fruits, nuts, and seeds that you want to make it your own. Be sure to let them cool COMPLETELY before you cut them or they can fall apart. Once they are cooled and refrigerated they stay firm and help together nicely.
Made exactly as described and these are great.I used raisins for the fruit and cooked about 33 minutes. Will make these again, thank you.
This is a great base recipe! I usually try to follow posted recipes pretty close for my first try with it, but this one seemed to offer an easy outlet to adjust for taste. I made mine with crushed almonds, tart cherries, and a few figs. I omitted the brown sugar-- They were plenty sweet without it. I also added 1/2 tsp of almond extract.They came out moist and chewy and everyone who has tasted enjoyed. I will definately make again...Anxious to try other nut and fruit combos.
I used cranberry flavoured nuts from the bulk barn and dried raspberries - Excellent recipe. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
These power bars are awesome and my family has teeth and jaw problems and with the fruit it was to chewy so what we did was replace the fruit with 1/4 cup of chocolate chips and 1/4 cup of crasins. today we tried something new though we made a batch of 24 with 1/4 cup of chocolate chips and 1/4 cup of peanut butter chips with 1/2 a cup of crasins and they are delicious!
These are incredibly moist bars and so easy to make! I tried it for the first time a week ago, substituting almonds for the original nuts/seeds, adding in coconut flakes and using coconut oil instead of vegetable. Although I enjoyed them they were a bit bland for my tastes. I made them again a few days later with the following changes and they turned out amazing! Here is my version: 2T brown sugar instead of 3T, used melted refined coconut oil (again), upped the applesauce (natural) to 1/3 c., chopped peanuts for the nuts, vanilla protein powder instead of flour, left out the cinnamon, added one large banana - slightly mashed, added dried cranberries, handful of raisins, a sprinkling of chocolate chips and chia seeds, 1/2 t. Boulder Salt for the added nutrition, and 2T. of powdered coconut water (for the extra potassium). This version turned out so well and was so easy that I made them 3 more times over the next couple of days! I shared them with many others and everyone loves them! Thanks to the versatility of this recipe I plan to make a different version every week!
I doubled this recipe, and didn't stray at all, and these are not good! I wanted them to be something my kids would eat, but they are dry, and a very strange texture. The picture makes them appear as if they have some moisture in them, but I would not ever make these again,
Based on taste these were really good. The only thing I didn't like was that they are crumbly which does not make them a good "grab n go" bar. They were very easy to make and made the house smell good. I think folks are going a little over board with all the changes they are making considering they are already very healthy and there is very little oil in them to begin with. I added flax seeds and choc chips to mine. I will make these again!
Delicious! Perfect for toddlers, and snacks on the go. Substituted half of the flour with protein powder, eliminated the brown sugar, added flax seeds, almond slivers raisins and cranberries. Will try adding a bit of peanut butter next time!
I followed another review and increased the applesauce to 3/4 cup and used dried cherries for the fruit, almonds for the nuts, egg beaters for the egg and did not add the sunflower seeds. I can see where you have a lot of room for playing around with ingredients and the result will probably always turn out great. My 11 y.o. son who doesn't like oatmeal loved these and it's good to know that I can have a healthy treat for him that's easy to make!
I wouldn't make these again. They are more of a cookie consistency, and don't hold their shape/crumble apart. Just a weird texture overall - not crunchy or chewy.
I'm impressed! I made them for the first time last night... so easy to make! And my husband ate three bars just last night, lol, piggy! He said I should make more today... so, I am right now! I'm so happy he likes them! Hopefully they'll fill his belly much longer than the air-filled ones we buy at the store... he could eat a whole box of those without blinking an eye. That man is expensive to feed!
Delish! A great alternative to chewy granola bars. These are packed with more nutrition and are very satisfying. I used coconut oil and added a scoop of chia seeds and sesame seeds. I've replaced the dried fruit with chocolate chips but the dried fruit is great too. Whatever fits your mood.
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