My Son likes to have snacks in his school lunch that taste good and I like him to have something that is a little more healthy, so we tried making our own granola bars this weekend. Pretty tasty but I may try adding some peanut butter next time to help bind a little better and add a little more flavor. They were kind of crumbly when cut and a little more dry than I would desire but my son liked them.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened

1/2 cup honey

1/3 cup (packed) brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking soda

4 1/2 cups rolled oats

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

(I added a little flax seed to the dry ingredients to increase the fiber content)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a medium bowl with electric mixer, cream together the butter, honey, brown sugar and vanilla. In a separate bowl mix together flour, baking soda and oats (flax seed). Mix wet and dry ingredients together till combined, will be crumbly (It is much easier to mix together with your hands).  Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish and press mixture into bottom of pan. Bake in center of oven 18-22 min or until golden at edges. After cooled slightly, press bars firmly with bottom of flat measuring cup. Once fully cooled, cup into bars and store in air-tight container.

Can replace chocolate chips with other tasty goodies like coconut, dried fruit or nuts.