Healthy Snacking: Homemade Granola Bars

Image via: Fabtastic Eats

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Ingredients

(makes about 24 bars)

2 cups regular rolled oats

¾ cup packed brown sugar

½ cup wheat germ

¾ tsp cinnamon, grounded

1 cup all-purpose flour (or whole grain)

¾ cup raisins

¾ tsp salt

½ cup honey

1 egg, beaten

½ cup vegetable or canola oil

2 tsp vanilla extract

Image via: My Natural Family

Directions

1. Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan generously and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Take a large bowl and mix together the oats, sugar, wheat germ, flour, cinnamon, salt and raisins. Make a little well in the center and pour in the honey, the beaten egg, oil and vanilla. Now mix well with your hands. Put the mixture into the pan and flatten it with your hands.
3. Bake for about 20-30 minutes or less, until they become brown at the edges. Let it cool down for 5 minutes and, while still warm, cut into bars.
4. Keep them in a ziploc bag to keep them chewy for a longer time.

Image via: Craftsy

This recipe is just the beginning. You can add pretty much any dried fruit or nut into the mixture, use more or less raisins and cinnamon or cut down on the sugar a little. Here are some ideas to try: add dried cranberries and sliced almonds; use chocolate chips in the mixture, dip one side into melted chocolate or just drizzle a little melted chocolate over the cool bars and add shredded coconut; try adding some peanut butter or apple sauce. You can choose to make them more crunchy by using more nuts or add seeds or trail mix, whatever you might have in your pantry.  And as the pumpkin season is here, try experimenting with some canned pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice to get a unique seasonal treat. The possibilities are almost endless!

For more healthy recipes on Stagetecture, click here.

Summer Dessert: Frosted Banana Bars

Image via: Itsy Bitsy Foodies

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Total time

30 minutes + cooling

Yields: 36 servings

Ingredients

1/2 cup softened butter

2 cups sugar

3 eggs

3 medium ripe bananas, mashed

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

2 cups all-purpose flour

Pinch of salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

Frosting

1 packet softened cream cheese

½ cup softened butter

4 cups powdered sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla essence

Image via: yummly.com

Procedure

1. In a bowl, mix cream cheese, butter, and sugar until light and fluffy. Slowly beat in the eggs, banana, and essence. Add flour, salt, and baking soda. Stir the mixture until completely blended.

2. Transfer the mixture to a greased baking pan approximately 15 by 10 inches. At 350 degrees, bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let it cool on the wire rack.

3. For frosting, beat butter and cream cheese until fluffy. Add sugar and essence. Again beat until smooth. Frost bars.

4. Garnish with banana slices.

Whether it is for a family dinner night, coffee with friends, or a holiday get together, these frosted banana bars are a great summer dessert to make. They are so moist and delicious that whenever you make them, they won’t last long. What’s more? You can make them ahead and store in the refrigerator.

For more easy desserts this season, click here.