Chewy Cranberry and Mini Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

I did it! This recipe comes with a big sigh of relief and a check of my list. For two or three months, I have been exhausting my husband's faith in me when it came to baking him granola bars. He will have a box in hand at the store, and I will say "Don't buy those, I'm going to make them." Well our last trip to the cereal aisle ended in "I don't think I believe you" SO. I tucked my kids in bed and pointed my focus to a new baking task. They were so simple to make and leave a mommy with the joy of knowing exactly what was mixed up in the bowl and how much money was saved. This recipe created 18 granola bars out of one batch and it probably cost me around $1.50!  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Line a 9x13 pan with foil and brush foil with Olive Oil 
Ingredients:

1 cup rolled oats
1 cup quick oats

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (dark chocolate if you can find it)

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup ground flax seeds

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1 Egg - beaten

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup olive oil or coconut oil

2 tsp Vanilla

Mix up the dry ingredients. In one of your used measuring cups, beat up the egg. Add the egg, honey, olive oil and vanilla into the dry ingredients. Stir until well mixed. This will take a little determination, and the best kitchen tool for this are your hands! Once mixed, press the dough into your foil lined pan. 

      

Bake for 20 minutes for chewy granola bars. 25-30 minutes for a more crunchy bar. Cut through the bar while in the pan and then allow to completely cool in the pan to avoid breaking the bars.

This yummy creation was adapted from a Tasty Kitchen recipe.