Granola: Chocolate-Dipped Granola Bars

By NicoleS

Ingredients

• 6 cups rolled oats (not quick oats)
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted, plus more for greasing
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup apple juice
• 1/4 cup molasses (Try honey or maple syrup; did not like so much of a molasses taste)
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups rice cereal
• 1 cup wheat germ
• 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
• 1/4 cup roughly chopped almonds
• 8 ounces milk chocolate

Details

Servings 12
Preparation time 15mins
Cooking time 70mins

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a bowl, toss the oats with the canola oil, melted butter and salt. Spread the mixture out on 2 baking sheets and toast in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, shaking the pan twice and making sure they don't burn. Remove from the oven and set aside. Reduce the heat to 325 degrees F.

In a medium saucepan, combine the brown sugar, honey, apple juice and molasses. Heat the mixture slowly, stirring until all combined. Stir in the vanilla and remove from the heat.

Toss together the toasted oats, rice cereal, wheat germ, pecans and almonds. Pour in the sugar mixture, stirring as you pour. Toss to combine; it will be sticky.

Press into 1 baking sheet (thoroughly greased with butter) and bake until golden, about 25 minutes. Turn oven off and sprinkle chocolate chips over the warm granola and allow to melt over top for a couple of minutes. Spread chocolate smoothly with a knife. Remove from oven and let cool. Cut pieces with a sharp knife and remove from the pan. You can cut them while they're still warm if that's easier.