Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

For someone who gets cranky when I'm hungry (also known as hangry), snacks are one thing you can always find in my purse. Foods that are quick to make and easy to pack are essential for people who get hangry easily. On a recent road trip I made to Connecticut to visit family, I needed a quick and easy snack to bring. I thought granola bars would be a nice recipe to try-they are healthy, quick to make, easy to pack, and are packed with oats that'll keep you full for hours. The only downfall to granola bars is that some varieties are rather bland. However, when I saw that Sally posted a granola bar recipe on her blog, I knew she wouldn't steer me wrong. 

I decided to stick to the basics and make a chocolate chip granola bar, using Sally's recipe as a baseline. And boy are these bars anything but basic. These chewy granola bars have just the right amount of sweetness-the brown sugar and chocolate chips give these bars a sweet flavor without being overwhelmingly sweet. The oatmeal provides a perfectly chewy texture. The hint of cinnamon, vanilla, and Princess extract add a depth of flavor that make these bars far from some of the bland versions you find in stores. For all of you snack people, give these granola bars a try. Switch them up and add dried fruit, coconut, nuts, or just make them plain. However you decide to make them, you most definitely won't find yourself hangry as long as your have these delights within arms reach.

Chocolate Chip Granola Bars (adapted from Sally's Baking Addiction)
(12-16 granola bars)

1/2 cup brown sugar, loosely packed
2 Tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats (not quick oats)
1/2 cup chocolate chips (you can use milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 egg whites, lightly beaten
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp vanilla extract
optional: 1/2 tsp Princess flavoring

To make a s'mores version add:
1/2 cup Mallow Bits
1/2 cup Honey Teddy Grahams, chopped into small pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees if you are using a glass baking dish, or 325 degrees if you are using a non-stick or dark colored baking dish. Spray an 8x8 baking dish with cooking spray.

Combine brown sugar and butter until it makes a crumbly mixture (there should be pea-sized pieces of butter mixed throughout the brown sugar). Set aside.

In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, oats, chocolate chips, and cinnamon (add Mallow Bits and Teddy Grahams if you are making the s'mores version). Add the brown sugar/butter mixture and combine. Add the egg whites, applesauce, and extracts, mixing until just combined, careful not to over mix.

Spoon batter into prepared baking dish. Bake for 15 minutes, or until sides just start to brown. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

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Nutritional Info
Servings Per Recipe: 16
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 104.9
Total Fat: 3.5 g
Cholesterol: 3.9 mg
Sodium: 12.9 mg
Total Carbs: 19.1 g
Fiber: 1.2 g
Sugars: 9.4 g
Protein: 2.2 g

Pros:
-Easy to make
-Easy cleanup
-Sweet but not too sweet
-Great for a snack or dessert
-Versatile-add dried fruit, nuts, or they are great without any add-ins!

Cons:
-Hard to eat just one

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

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