I wanted to make a big, fancy two layer yellow cake today, but reality set in and I realized I wouldn’t have time to go buy cake flour and frosting ingredients. Luckily, I did have a hodgepodge of coconut, oats, wheat germ and was able to make a quick batch of what may be my new favorite coconut chocolate chip granola bars.
Chewy Coconut Chocolate Chip Granola Bars are made by toasting the oats, coconut and wheat germ lightly, then blending them with butter, peanut butter, brown sugar and honey. Because the mixture is quite hot, it is cooled slightly before the chocolate chips are added.
Chewy Coconut Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Coconut & Chip Granola Bars
Author: Cookie Madness
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Serves: 9
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups quick cooking oats**
- 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
- 1/4 cup wheat germ (I used toasted)
- 4 tablespoons butter, salted
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 6 tablespoons extra-crunchy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla
- 1/2 cup mixed white and dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line a 9 inch square metal baking pan with nonstick foil or parchment paper.
- Spread oats evenly on a large rimmed parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 350 for 5 minutes. Add the coconut and wheat germ to the baking sheet and continue toasting for another 5 to 8 minutes, stirring every so often, until the coconut starts to brown. Remove from oven and let cool.
- Meanwhile, combine butter, sugar and honey in a large microwave-safe mixing bowl. Heat on high for 30 seconds. Stir until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved. Add the peanut butter and vanilla and stir until smooth. Let cool slightly, then stir in the cooled oat mixture and the chips
- Pour into the lined square pan and press tightly into the pan. Bake for about 15 minutes.
- Let cool for about 30 minutes, then lift from the pan and score (do not cut) into bars. Put the scored bars in the refrigerator until firm, then carefully break them apart along the scored edges. Chilling the bars will help them hold together when sliced. You can the bars into square or make 8 long bars and trim the edges.
Notes
If you only have old fashioned oats, you can use them as is or buzz them for a few seconds in a food processor. Quick oats are cut smaller than old fashioned and will give you a different texture, but old fashioned oats -- especially when chopped up a little (not completely ground) work just fine.
Erin says
March 20, 2014 at 7:58 pmI don’t usually have wheat germ on hand but use ground flax and/or chia seeds with great success.
These look like great bars. I will be trying soon.
Anna says
March 20, 2014 at 1:17 pmChristine, thanks for pinning and sharing!!
Marci,
The wheat germ adds a really nice flavor and probably helps hold the bars together since it forms a matrix with the liquid ingredients. However, I think you could just leave it out and the bars would still be great. Good luck!
Marci says
March 20, 2014 at 12:37 pmIs there anything I could sub for the wheat germ? Thanks! 🙂
Christine from Cook the Story says
March 20, 2014 at 8:33 amThese would be perfect for a lunch box treat! Pinned and shared!
Rynda says
March 20, 2014 at 7:36 amThat makes more sense!
Anna says
March 20, 2014 at 7:23 amRynda, sorry! It’s flaked “coconut” not flaked granola.
Chloe @ foodlikecake says
March 20, 2014 at 5:59 amI love homemade granola bars- these look good!
Rynda says
March 19, 2014 at 10:05 pmWhat is “flaked” granola?