I’m in the process of taking a new picture of these. They are very good! Will add more later, but I need to make another batch and update. Recipe is adapted from The King Arthur Cookie Companion. This is a half batch/8 inch square version.
Vermont Granola Bars (Small Batch)
Makes an 8 inch square pan of chewy granola bars.
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups oats
- 1/3 cup sunflower seeds untoasted or toasted**
- 1/4 cup coconut shredded sweetened
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup almonds roasted and coarsely chopped
- 1/3 cup chopped apricots or other dried fruit
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 1/2 tablespoons corn syrup
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons white chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with non-stick foil or parchment paper.
- Lay oats on baking sheet and toast for 5 minutes. Add sunflower seeds to pan and toast for another 3 minutes. Sprinkle coconut onto cookie sheet with oats and seeds; toast all for another 3-5 minutes or until coconut is aromatic and starts to brown around edges – keep an eye on it so make sure it doesn’t burn. Place toasted oats/seeds/coconut mixture in a large mixing bowl; Stir in salt, almonds and apricots.
- Begin melting butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add corn syrup, maple syrup and brown sugar to melted butter. Place a candy thermometer in the saucepan and allow mixture to come to a gentle boil. Boil without stirring until mixture reaches 245 degrees F. on thermometer – a little over “soft ball” stage. Remove from heat. Stir vanilla into hot syrup, then pour syrup into mixing bowl with oat mixture and stir to combine. Let cool slightly and add some white chips or chocolate chips.
- Press tightly into the foil lined pan. Bake for 5 minutes. Without removing from pan, Score into 9 squares or 6 rectangles while still warm. The bars will be hot, crumbly and soft, so don’t try to separate them yet. Let them cool completely. When they are cool, lift parchment and remove from pan. They should be firm at this point, but if you would like them to be even firmer, place them in the refrigerator.
Notes
If your sunflower seeds are already toasted you don’t have to toast them with the oats. Just add the coconut after the first 8 minutes and toast it along with the oats until it starts to brown.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Holly
Those look mighty tasty indeed! They look very moist. Moist is good. 🙂
Annie
Disregard my last comment – I just found your version! Thanks
Annie
Hi Anna – it’s been a while!
Oh my god – have you had a LaraBar? If so, what’s your take? They are my latest obcession. I’m just poking around Cookiemadness to see if you’ve cracked this recipe yet. It seems pretty simple…
Claire N
Thanks, Anna! That information is great, as I do not own a candy thermometer right now!
Anna
tg and Erika, I’m glad you all understand why I love Archer Farms. What a great store brand. Their salsa is good too.
Claire, these are really easy to make. Using the candy thermometer is a bit intimidating, but it’s not big deal. I think the mixture boils for about 3 minutes and reaches firm ball stage. I might try making these again without the candy thermometer.
Claire N
I had the same thought as Randi. Although granola has good ingredients, the dried characteristic of most of them make them high in sugar. No matter how healthy the ingredient, having a lot of sugar isn’t great. BUT these don’t have much added sugar and look like they are good. I’ve never made granola but may have to try my hand.
Erika
Ooh! Thank you for sharing these! Dh will love them!
I love Archer Farms gourmet popcorns…my little Target addiction. 😉
tg
luv archer farms (thx for the link!). luv that king arthur book too. i’m just full of luv for cookie madness today
Anna
Randi, I guess compared to other richer cookies, they are okay.
Maureen, you could do a Hazelnut & Butterscotch chip version!
Judi, sorry to hear about your oat intolerance. That’s a new one to me, but I believe it.
Judi
Yum! This past year I found out I had an oat intolerance, so no more oats or oat filled yummies for me…. They look good though!
Maureen
Oooh, I can’t wait to make these. For some reason I am obsessed with snacking on the Nature Valley Fruit and Nut Trail Mix bars. I guess it is at least one thing that doesn’t melt entirely in the car while it sits in the sun. I have all the ingredients on hand – so no excuses. 🙂
Randi
Those look good and not too bad for you. There isnt much butter or corn syrup.