Make Your Own (Whatever flavor) Chewy Granola Bars!!

Ok, I know I have an unnatural obsession with bars.... Larabars....energy bars.....

I love when I can make something from scratch that tastes as good as (or better than) store bought things. Especially when it saves me money. I heart saving money. (Unfortunately, I also heart spending money. Sort of like how I like exercising and eating. Yeah.)

I really like these granola bars. They were VERY easy to make, I had everything on hand, and the kids liked them as much as I did!

Don't they look good? I made mine with chocolate chips and sunflower seeds.... yummm...

Here's what you need:

2 cups rolled oats

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup wheat germ

1 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup mix ins (I used 1/2 cup chocolate chips and 1/4 cup sunflower seeds... craisins and white chocolate chips would be good- or almonds and dried cherries.....)

1/2 cup honey

3/4 tsp salt

1 egg, beaten

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Ok, I'm not trying to be creepy, but how weird-looking is the honey bear's face?! Have you even looked at your honey bear? I had to turn the bottle in the opposite direction, because it was giving me the heebeejeebees!!! He was staring at me!

Mix the wet ingredients in one bowl, and the dry ingredients in another:

Then combine them, and mix well with a spatula, or your hands. Then dump the mixture into a well-greased 9x13 pan:

Spread/pat the mixture evenly over the bottom of the pan:

Bake at 350 for 35 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes, then cut into bars and let cool completely in the pan. (If you wait for them to cool before cutting, it's much harder)

That's it!! Now you have a batch of yummy, homemade chewy granola bars!!

I adapted this recipe from http://www.allrecipes.com/