Homemade granola bars

[cups123]

Hi everyone,

What is the trick to making granola "stick" as bars and not just crumbling? I made them today with instant oats, wheat germ, walnuts, raisins and made a sauce of honey, peanut butter, sugar, and half a stick of butter (melted it all together and mixed it with dry ingredients) then baked for 30 minutes on 325. They are really tasty but they aren't BARS:( Should I add an egg?? What to do?

[jules127]

How much of the liquid ingredients are you using? I use honey, applesauce and an egg to bind my oats, wheatgerm, almond meal, flour and dried fruit and they come out as chewy bars.

[katw]

Sorry my reply wasn't so thorough. Check this thread and see if this helps. When I make it, it's chewy but stays together: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/590740 about breads, bars, etc. I posted a semi-recipe there

[margoscafe]

I make granola bars all the time. I use melted margarine & condensed milk, then bake 350 for 30 min

[pastaguy]

Alton Brown has a granola bar recipe--that might help you out. http://www.recipezaar.com/Granola-Bar...

[Egg]

Alton Brown's granola bar recipe is my favorite. I prefer to make the baked type, as I have found recipes that don't bake yield bars that are too sticky/gooey for convenient travel.

[pastaguy]

Maybe you can help me with it. I like my granola bars a little chewy, and every time I make them, they come out of the pan falling apart goey, I cut them, and 30 minutes later they're like eating bricks. Any advice on keeping them a little softer (like they are when he eats them on the show)?

[pastaguy]

Ok, so just read the rest of your post, but clearly there's a compromise. . .isn't there? Right? Maybe? :-)

[shaebones]

I don't bake them. In saucepan over low heat mix honey, butter peanut butter and sugar. Mix w dry ingredients then press on to a jelly pan w a rolling pin and cut into bars AFTER they cool completely.

[katw]

Hi,
You could try adding the egg. The other liquids seem O.K.