Kate,
I've been using a granola bar recipe which was posted here by fearlessem. It is really good,if you like bars that are thick, chewy and loaded with whatever you want to put in. My initial reaction was these can't be healthy at all, but em made a good case that they aren't all that bad for you.

I've included a link to the thread.
Jo

Here is a link that might be useful: granola bars

Looking at that recipe from em, it seems like the peanut butter is the difference between just granola and granola bar. Is that what holds it together Jo?

I'm interested in your question Kate. I'd love to do that too. It's easier to eat and run that way. I finally found a breakfast I can stomach, it's granola. But a bar would be even more convenient and assure that I eat in the morning.

-Robin

Kate, I've never made granola bars, I just eat the granola out of the bag. It's easier. (grin)

that said, I have a great recipe from Gardengrl (Kathy) for maple granola and I love it. I'd take that King Arthur flour recipe that's linked, start with maybe 4 cups of granola and the other ingredients and bake it, see what you get. Or, if you are not wanting to chance that much, cut it in half and try half a batch.

Annie

I have made granola bars many times and find that a large quantity of sugar is necessary to hold them together. Whenever I cut back on the sugar (in any form: brown, corn, white, honey) they fell apart and crumbled.
I have not made ones with peanut butter, however, and do find those intriguing. But I don't really like peanut butter much.
Maybe with almond butter...

I have made the King Arthur one and it's good if very sweet.

So I end up just making granola because I can limit the sugar to whatever I want.

Thank you everyone for your feedback. That's great.

Jo appreciate the link. Those sound SO good. I will be sure and read her page a little further. Yum.

Thanks Annie. Great suggestion.

Bumblebeez did I read you correctly that you don't like peanut butter? You may wish to consider yourself lucky. PB is one of those things that is just too tempting. I can't even keep a jar in the house. When I am feeling indulgent I buy Better n Peanut Butter which is not real PB per se but it satisfies my cravings without so much fat.

Kate

Kate,
I'm not a big PB fan, but was introduced to PB2 through my weight watcher's leader.
It has 85% less fat and comes powdered. You mix with water. It tastes just like you've been eating lots of dry roasted peanuts!! I keep some on hand for those rare cravings.

It's sold only online at Bell Plantation (...you know, with the Dot Com behind it).

It's really pretty darned good for "diet stuff". LOL

Deanna

Thanks Deanna. I will definitely check that out. I really have a problem with peanut butter:) Even a small jar of the kind I use disappears in a day or two. I just can't say no:)

Appreciate that.

Kate

Here is a link that might be useful: Better n Peanut Butter

OMG someone doesn't like peanut butter? Is it even possible? LOL I cannot imagine life without peanut butter... I LOVE peanut butter!!!!

Deanna, I have some PB2 at home too but I don't find its taste anywhere near the real stuff. I bought 3 small jars two years ago but still have 2 left. I don't like so much because of the extra sugar added. Of course, it's unavoidable... without the natural fat, they have to add something back to make it more palatable. My all natural peanut has no sugar added so I am not used to the sweetness. Do you know the shelf life of PB2? I have a feeling that they have already expired and need to go into the trash. What a shame, they are so expensive too.

Al

OMG someone doesn't like peanut butter? Is it even possible? LOL I cannot imagine life without peanut butter... I LOVE peanut butter!!!!

Yep. I don't "not like" peanut butter, I hate it. I'd have to be desperately hungry to eat it. It's kind of a mystery to me why people consider it food at all. I always hated it. When I was a kid I tried to eat it, because that's what kids like, right? No.
I don't even like to smell it.
So we do exist, Al!

I love peanut butter, but I do NOT like that Better than Peanut Butter stuff, it's not even close.

I like Koeze's Cream Nut best, my second choice is Peter Pan Honey Roasted. Right off the spoon, I don't even need bread.

Annie

Put me down as another one who hates peanut butter. I don't even think I could get it down even if I were starving. Just the smell... Yuck!

It turns out that it is my honeys favorite food on the planet. Today as he was walking out he blew me an air kiss because he had been eating peanut butter and knew I would complain if he had actually kissed me. I really, really can't stand that stuff.

I don't hate peanut butter, but I could certainly survive without it. Actually, I like it on a warm, toasted english muffin, but I don't care for peanut butter cookies or most other recipes that call for peanut butter. I detest anything Reeses.

However, I really do want to try those granola bars. I truly think they would be scrumptious!

Linda

I use Ina Garten's Granola recipe. (link below) When I want it in bars I cook it at 300F, use a 9 X 13 pan and I do not stir. I let it cool and then cut into bars. This recipe is just a template for me as I never use dried figs but double up the cranberries and sometimes use 3 cups cranberries. I don't eat cashews so I use Pecans or Almonds.

DL

Here is a link that might be useful: Ina Garten Granola

Thank you all. I am going to try one of these recipes today although I'm not sure which yet. Nice to have choices:)

Kate

OMG Christine, Joan, & Linda... you guys DO exist! I am in shock as much as when the M&Ms saw Santa! LOL

Annie, I'd never heard of Better than Peanut Butter until you mentioned it. I did a search, it's something like PB2, the lower in fat and calories stuff. Since I don't like PB2, I probably won't like that stuff either.

To be fair, I LOVE peanut butter but I don't like anything "peanut butter-flavored" because they're not peanut butter, including peanut butter cookies and Reese!

Sorry Kate, didn't meant to hijack your thread. :0)

Back to the granola bar topic... I do use peanut butter as "glue" in my energy bars but you don't taste peanut butter at all. I use protein powder and cocoa powder so my energy bars taste more like chewy chocolate granola bars :-) Yummo!

Al

Hijack away Al, no problem.

Like I said in my post above when I mentioned Better n Peanut Butter, it really is good. It isn't to everyone's taste but if you want to get that PB experience sans all the fat it really is an excellent substitution. I would not rule it out until you've given it a shot. Furthermore it seems to be much more readily available in the groceries than PB2. Honestly I am fully hooked on the stuff.

Now about your granola bars. Do you have a recipe for what you described? Sounds really good.

Thank you.

Kate

Kate, nah! I am one of those who always cook without a recipe. Even if I used a recipe I never followed it full heartedly. I just melt 1/2 cup of honey and 1/2 peanut butter as "glue" then I mix whatever I want into it. I usually use 1:1:1 glue:carbs:others ration. Carbs I use oats, grains, flakes etc and "others" I use nuts, seeds, coconut, raisins etc. As long as you can form the batter into ball without falling apart, you can roll it out then cut it to whatever sizes and shapes you want. I even use my vacuum sealer to wrap the bars individually for hubby to take to work. Very handy and yummy!

Al

Deanna:

I came across this old thread today and had to check back in with you. I found a semi local retailer who carries PB2 (both chocolate and regular) and have become a regular customer ever since. I love this stuff. I really very much appreciate you telling me about it and wanted to thank you.

Kate

I'm not a fan of peanut butter but Moe is. I already make him granola. Now I need to make him granola bars.

Ann