Granola Bars

My boyfriend is always asking me to bake him some sort of breakfast bar.  His only requirements:  healthy, tasty, filling, and portable.  Unfortunately for him, I usually put it off and put it off until I don't have the time or energy.  It's just not as fun making healthy treats.  I prefer my baked goods to be either buttery or piled with frosting.  I know...I know...bad girlfriend.  So, while perusing the oh-so-amazing Smitten Kitchen for unhealthy treats, I came across this "so-easy-it's-ridiculous" recipe for granola bars.  Of course, I had to make it for him.  As she says on her website, this is the most flexible recipe ever.  Meaning you are free to add any combination of nuts and dried fruits you want.  In this particular recipe I used a lot of Sam's favorites: candied ginger, coconut, walnuts, goji berries, raisins, craisins, and pistachios.  I am posting her original recipe with my changes in parenthesis.

Ingredients:


1 2/3 cups quick rolled oats (gluten free can also be used)
1/2 to 3/4 cup granulated sugar (because I used candied ginger and Sammy prefers things a little less sweet, I used 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar)
1/3 cup oat flour (or 1/3 cup oats processed until finely ground in a blender or food processer.  This was my method)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I also added about 1 teaspoon of ground ginger and 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, that little kick is a nice suprise.)
2 to 3 cups dried fruits and nuts (I went with 3)
1/3 cup peanut butter (optional, but I went for it)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (again optional, I did not go for it)
6 tablespoons melted butter (because of a microwave...um, mishap? I did 4 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons peanut oil)
1/4 cup honey, maple syrup or corn syrup (I used dark, pure maple syrup...not that Mrs Butterworths stuff)
2 tablespoons light corn syrup (I skipped this)
1 tablespoon water


Directions:


1 - Preheat the oven to 350* and line an 8"x8"x2" pan with parchment paper in one direction.  Parchment paper should go up the opposing sides.  Lightly coat the parchment paper and exposed pan with non-stick spray (or oil...or whatever).


2 - Stir the dry ingredients together, including nuts and fruits.  In a seperate bowl, whisk together wet ingredients.  Toss the two together until the mixture is evenly crumbly.  Spread in the pan you prepared earlier, press in firmly to make sure it is molded to the shape of the pan.  It's helpful to put a piece of plastic wrap on top of the mixture. 


3 - Bake for 30 - 40 minutes, until brown around the edges.  It'll feel too soft when you press in the center, but once cooled it will firm up.


4 - Cool bars completely in their pan on the cooling rack.


5 - Once cool, remove from pan.  Cut using a serrated knife.