Afterschool snacks don’t have to be loaded with sugar to be loved by your kids!
Chef Joe Mirra, director of dining services at The Peck School, shares a healthy recipe that can be made to customize the tastes of any picky eater: granola bars. Encourage your young chefs to make these with you and test out different add-ins, such as apple, cranberries, or almonds.
Ingredients
1.5 cups old fashioned oatmeal cereal, dry
¼ cup all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking soda
2 tbsp light brown sugar
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ tsp pure vanilla extract
2 ¼ ounces honey
1 ⅛ ounces pure maple syrup
2 ½ ounces melted butter
Directions
- In a large bowl, mix all of the dry ingredients (oatmeal, flour, brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and chocolate chips).
- To the dry ingredients add melted butter, vanilla, honey, and maple syrup. Mix well. The mixture should be well coated and moist.
- Place on a baking sheet pan lined with parchment paper and pat in an even layer. Bake in a 350-F oven for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. *TIP* Do not over bake as the bars will become dry.
- Cool and cut into 2” squares
