Comments on: How I Decided to Create Granola Bars http://thekitchensinkrecipes.com/2008/02/09/how-i-decided-to-create-granola-bars/ Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:20:47 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jeremy http://thekitchensinkrecipes.com/2008/02/09/how-i-decided-to-create-granola-bars/comment-page-2/#comment-20054 Jeremy Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:36:39 +0000 http://ourkitchensink.wordpress.com/?p=604#comment-20054 I recently became addicted to Kashi's granola bars as well and decided that it would be fun and maybe cheaper to make them myself. Google brought me to this recipe, and I now make it a LOT. However in my attempt to emulate my beloved Kashi bars, here is how I have adapted the recipe: - I use 2 cups of Bob's Red Mill 5-grain cereal in place of just oats - Since said cereal already has the flax seed in it, I don't add it separately as indicated here -The 3/4 cup difference in oats and flax seed I have replaced with puffed brown rice cereal (which is usually in the organic section of the grocery) - I only used about a half cup of nuts - I add an additional tablespoon of honey, and a tablespoon of water. This helps get everything coated - the baking process later will help reduce any excess moisture. - I make my own natural peanut butter by just putting unsalted dry roasted peanuts in my mini food processor until it's a paste. - The last couple times I made these, I didn't do the pre-mix roasting, and I think I like them better. - I mix the dry with the wet "glue" and, instead of the 8x8 cake pan, I pack them into a parchement paper-lined 9x13 cookie sheet (the ones that have the sides...not the flat ones - I think they also might be called jelly roll sheets?). After chilling them COMPLETELY, I then pull them out and cut them into bars. I get about 24. They are still soft and moist enough that they cut easily, and if they crumble a little you can kind of press them back together - This is when I bake them - as bars. What you're really doing is getting rid of excess moisture. How you bake them will determine if you get chewier bars or crunchier, dry bars. I place them on a cookie sheet and bake them for 15 minutes at the 325 indicated. If you take them out at this point they will be chewier. The last time I made these I shut the oven off but left them in for an additional 10-15 minutes and they became dryer and crunchier but still very good for a nice change. Next time I will probably do this step but not quite as long. I recently became addicted to Kashi’s granola bars as well and decided that it would be fun and maybe cheaper to make them myself. Google brought me to this recipe, and I now make it a LOT. However in my attempt to emulate my beloved Kashi bars, here is how I have adapted the recipe:
- I use 2 cups of Bob’s Red Mill 5-grain cereal in place of just oats
- Since said cereal already has the flax seed in it, I don’t add it separately as indicated here
-The 3/4 cup difference in oats and flax seed I have replaced with puffed brown rice cereal (which is usually in the organic section of the grocery)
- I only used about a half cup of nuts
- I add an additional tablespoon of honey, and a tablespoon of water. This helps get everything coated – the baking process later will help reduce any excess moisture.
- I make my own natural peanut butter by just putting unsalted dry roasted peanuts in my mini food processor until it’s a paste.
- The last couple times I made these, I didn’t do the pre-mix roasting, and I think I like them better.
- I mix the dry with the wet “glue” and, instead of the 8×8 cake pan, I pack them into a parchement paper-lined 9×13 cookie sheet (the ones that have the sides…not the flat ones – I think they also might be called jelly roll sheets?). After chilling them COMPLETELY, I then pull them out and cut them into bars. I get about 24. They are still soft and moist enough that they cut easily, and if they crumble a little you can kind of press them back together
- This is when I bake them – as bars. What you’re really doing is getting rid of excess moisture. How you bake them will determine if you get chewier bars or crunchier, dry bars. I place them on a cookie sheet and bake them for 15 minutes at the 325 indicated. If you take them out at this point they will be chewier. The last time I made these I shut the oven off but left them in for an additional 10-15 minutes and they became dryer and crunchier but still very good for a nice change. Next time I will probably do this step but not quite as long.

]]> By: JD http://thekitchensinkrecipes.com/2008/02/09/how-i-decided-to-create-granola-bars/comment-page-2/#comment-19690 JD Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:20:58 +0000 http://ourkitchensink.wordpress.com/?p=604#comment-19690 Does anyone know the nutritional content (calories, fat, fiber etc) in these bars? I absolutely love them but want to know how good/bad they are for me. Does anyone know the nutritional content (calories, fat, fiber etc) in these bars? I absolutely love them but want to know how good/bad they are for me.

]]> By: Jill http://thekitchensinkrecipes.com/2008/02/09/how-i-decided-to-create-granola-bars/comment-page-2/#comment-19660 Jill Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:23:24 +0000 http://ourkitchensink.wordpress.com/?p=604#comment-19660 I made these for the third or fourth time tonight...I have always ended up with incredibly yummy but incredibly crumbly granola bars. I like the big chunks, so I keep the method and expect the crumbles. Only difference tonight was that I was using Skippy peanut butter (which my kids have petitioned to have in the house) instead of my usual natural stuff. The bars stayed together so much better!!! Wonder if this is the key??? I made these for the third or fourth time tonight…I have always ended up with incredibly yummy but incredibly crumbly granola bars. I like the big chunks, so I keep the method and expect the crumbles. Only difference tonight was that I was using Skippy peanut butter (which my kids have petitioned to have in the house) instead of my usual natural stuff. The bars stayed together so much better!!! Wonder if this is the key???

]]> By: Bella http://thekitchensinkrecipes.com/2008/02/09/how-i-decided-to-create-granola-bars/comment-page-2/#comment-19610 Bella Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:47:54 +0000 http://ourkitchensink.wordpress.com/?p=604#comment-19610 I was wondering what I could substitute instead of the sugar? Applesauce? STevia? More honey? Really trying to keep the sugar down. Anybody know what the calorie count would be on these? Tx I was wondering what I could substitute instead of the sugar? Applesauce? STevia? More honey? Really trying to keep the sugar down.
Anybody know what the calorie count would be on these?
Tx

]]> By: Clara http://thekitchensinkrecipes.com/2008/02/09/how-i-decided-to-create-granola-bars/comment-page-2/#comment-19456 Clara Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:53:11 +0000 http://ourkitchensink.wordpress.com/?p=604#comment-19456 I have just baked these and they are cooling at the moment.... I ate a bit of the hot mixture and it was delicious! I just hope it will hold together! Thank you! I have just baked these and they are cooling at the moment…. I ate a bit of the hot mixture and it was delicious! I just hope it will hold together! Thank you!

]]> By: Ben http://thekitchensinkrecipes.com/2008/02/09/how-i-decided-to-create-granola-bars/comment-page-2/#comment-19393 Ben Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:22:33 +0000 http://ourkitchensink.wordpress.com/?p=604#comment-19393 Thank you so much. I make this recipe nearly every week and it's SOOO yummy! (: Thank you so much. I make this recipe nearly every week and it’s SOOO yummy! (:

]]> By: Jan http://thekitchensinkrecipes.com/2008/02/09/how-i-decided-to-create-granola-bars/comment-page-2/#comment-17131 Jan Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:38:42 +0000 http://ourkitchensink.wordpress.com/?p=604#comment-17131 Tried to make these last night - unfortunately they didn't work at all for me, I ended up with some granola bar "chunks" but mainly a dish full of rubble! Never mind, I can use it as granola I guess. As per other comments, there didn't seem to be enough pb/honey mix to work through the toasted oats/seeds/nuts, so I wonder if I should have added some more, or some other liquid to mix it all better? I think I'll stick to making regular granola - I was looking for something "portable" for days when I'm heading out on the road early, but I suspect these would crumble all over me.... Thanks for the recipe - the taste is good, definitely worth a try............. Tried to make these last night – unfortunately they didn’t work at all for me, I ended up with some granola bar “chunks” but mainly a dish full of rubble! Never mind, I can use it as granola I guess.
As per other comments, there didn’t seem to be enough pb/honey mix to work through the toasted oats/seeds/nuts, so I wonder if I should have added some more, or some other liquid to mix it all better? I think I’ll stick to making regular granola – I was looking for something “portable” for days when I’m heading out on the road early, but I suspect these would crumble all over me….

Thanks for the recipe – the taste is good, definitely worth a try………….

]]> By: Kristin at The Kitchen Sink http://thekitchensinkrecipes.com/2008/02/09/how-i-decided-to-create-granola-bars/comment-page-2/#comment-17099 Kristin at The Kitchen Sink Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:37:03 +0000 http://ourkitchensink.wordpress.com/?p=604#comment-17099 Fearless: Pepitas are pumpkin seeds. Let us know how the recipe works for you! Fearless: Pepitas are pumpkin seeds. Let us know how the recipe works for you!

]]> By: Fearless http://thekitchensinkrecipes.com/2008/02/09/how-i-decided-to-create-granola-bars/comment-page-2/#comment-17092 Fearless Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:00:10 +0000 http://ourkitchensink.wordpress.com/?p=604#comment-17092 your recipe looks so yummy! i will definitely try this. but what are pepitas? sorry but i really have no clue what these are. thanks! your recipe looks so yummy! i will definitely try this. but what are pepitas? sorry but i really have no clue what these are. thanks!

]]> By: Paula http://thekitchensinkrecipes.com/2008/02/09/how-i-decided-to-create-granola-bars/comment-page-2/#comment-16947 Paula Mon, 04 Jan 2010 07:03:19 +0000 http://ourkitchensink.wordpress.com/?p=604#comment-16947 I this post to a friend who is trying to rid her house of processed foods but LOVES granola bars. I sent your link to her and hope she will try them. :) I this post to a friend who is trying to rid her house of processed foods but LOVES granola bars. I sent your link to her and hope she will try them. :)

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