These chewy Oatmeal Raisin Granola Bars are the ideal lunchbox treat or after school snack.
As a mom of two young children and a healthy recipe developer, I am constantly asked for nutritious kid-friendly meal ideas. The truth is, I didn’t grow up eating “kid food” and as a result, neither will my children. My kids eat what the adults eat and as a result, their food gets the same attention to flavor, ingredients, and spices as mine.
With back to school season in full force, there is always a renewed interest in getting back in the kitchen to prepare food that will give our kids the energy they need to get through busy school days. If you have ever struggled with preparing healthy lunches for your kids, you MUST pick up a copy of my friend Laura’s new cookbook, The Best Homemade Kids’ Lunches on the Planet.
Her book is full of simple, affordable and TASTY ideas that are ideal for the lunchbox. Even if you don’t have school-aged kids at home, these lunch ideas are ideal for children and adults of all ages. Personally, I can’t wait to try the Smashed Chickpea Sandwich and Baked Raviolis!
I couldn’t resist sharing one recipe from the book with all of you so I decided to share these Oatmeal Raisin Granola Bars. Packed with whole grain goodness and just the right amount of sweetness, these homemade granola bars are ideal for brown bag lunches, after school snacking or just stashing in your diaper bag for later.
With over 200 delicious lunches your kids will love, I can’t recommend this book enough!
What do your kids love to eat in their school lunches?? Let me know in the comments below – I would love to hear new ideas!
No forks required.
Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups quick oats
- 1 cup crispy rice cereal
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons heaping raisins
- ¼ cup butter or coconut oil
- ¼ cup brown rice syrup
- ¼ cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Line an 8 x 8-inch or 9 x 9-inch baking pan or glass baking dish with parchment paper. In a large bowl, mix the oats, cereal, salt and raisins. Set aside.
- In a small pot, melt the butter, syrup and brown sugar. When it starts to boil, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook for 4 minutes, making sure the mixture continues to minimally bubble while siring often. Turn off the heat and add the vanilla.
- Pour the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients, and mix well to combine all ingredients. Place the mixture into the baking dish. Cover with parchment paper, and press down with your hands until the mix is well packed. (Just when you think you’ve pressed down enough- press some more!)
- Allow the pan to cool at room temperature for at least 2 hours. Lift parchment paper out onto a cutting board and slice into 12 bars. After cutting the bars, store in an airtight container or ziplock bag for up to 1 week.
Trying this recipe with Karo light corn syrup with real vanilla. And opted for the coconut oil organic extra virgin cold pressed. Needed to soak the raisins overnight. Going to add cranberries also. Added powdered cocoa something leftover in the cupboard and may add semi sweet morsels. But ready to try peanuts and chocolate with granola next. Can’t wait to see how these turn out.
Wow sounds great! Keep me posted!
It’s me again! I just made another batch, this time with coconut oil and no pb. I plan on taking them over for a playdate with some new friends. It seemed to be pretty liquidy with the oil but seemed to come together just like the other batches. Can’t wait to see how they turn out!
I hope you enjoy them!
The first batch is almost gone, every delicious and wholesome bite enjoyed by every member of the family! I just made another batch with dark chocolate and peanut butter to send to my best friend a few states away. Since it can stay well for at least a week, I figure it’ll be good to travel at room temp for a few days, in a zip lock bag. Any suggestions on how to pack it?
How could I incorporate peanut butter or almonds butter? My little one tried and loved those Quaker chewy bars (thanks to grandma bringing them over!) but I don’t want to keep buying them with all the processed ingredients. I do want to keep some of the attributes that I think he loved about them, though, like the chocolate and peanut butter. At this point, I have all the ingredients ready except for the rice syrup. :)
Hi Jess! What if you tried replacing the butter/coconut oil with peanut butter? I can’t guarantee it would work but it’s worth a shot! Let me know if you try it ok?
Almost-success! After sitting overnight they stick together well but are still pretty soft. Other than that, the pb is a delicious flavor and scent but not overpowering. I also added in 2 Tbsp. of flax seed and used diced dried apricots, plums and a box of dried cranberries instead of raisins. They are so good! Now that I have a whole jar of rice syrup, a huge container of oats and a big box of rice cereal, I’ll be making these every week! :) Thanks!
Thanks for the feedback!!! I hope you enjoy them made with the brown rice syrup!
Thanks for this amazing recipe! So easy + so yummy! I cut back on the coconut oil and added butterscotch chips. They were a huge hit in my house! :)
So thrilled to hear it!
I was excited to try these. Unfortunately my bars didn’t turn out like I had hoped. I substituted maple syrup for the brown rice syrup and my bars were crumbly and didnt hold together. Maybe next time I will try honey because I am looking for that chewy healthy granola bar! Thanks!
Hi Suzy – Yes I’m afraid the brown rice syrup is the key to keeping the bars together. Let me know how it works with honey! Hopefully they were still delicious with maple syrup eaten as granola. :)
Heck, I want to make these and there are no kids in my house! Perfect post-work, pre-workout snack!
Exactly!! Who doesn’t want a tasty treat? :)
These granola bars are right up my alley!
While I don’t have kids quite yet, I really hope to be the same way you are, the kids eat what we eat. I refuse to make separate meals! I love that granola bars are perfect for kids and adults alike! I’d take these in my grownup lunch box any day. :)
Well if you’re in charge of the kitchen, they will follow your rules! :)
Even though I don’t have any kids, I’m always looking for good and easy lunch ideas, I’m totally loving the sound of these raisin granola bars! Definitely going to try!!!
I hope you like them!!
Those look delicious! I know it’s adding an additional step, but you should try toasting the dry ingredients either in the oven or on the stovetop next time! It would give a much more pleasing golden color to your bars, plus the toasting brings out the flavor of the oats, giving it a much richer, deeper flavor! :)
Such a great idea Rebecca!
Great recipe, perfect for back to school and wonderfully natural and healthy!
Thank you so much Sophia!
Granola Bars are always a fav in our house and these look amazing! Great shot!
You and me both Serena!!
Gotta love healthy granola bars!!
Isn’t that the truth!!
We may not have kids, but I still think even I could use this book! The granola bars look so chewy and yummy, and I love that picture too!
Honestly my kids don’t go to school or pack lunches but even if it was just for ME, this book is the perfect lunch guide!
Last year was my daughter’s first year eating lunch at school and it was a nut-free school. We did a lot of hard boiled eggs, mashed avocado sandwiches, mini muffins, and she always had a fresh fruit and vegetable. Thanks for this review!
Wow all of those foods you mentioned sound outstanding! Especially the mashed avocado sandwiches!