Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
School is back in session and it’s in person this year. Let’s be honest, it is exhausting peopling these days, even for kids (especially those old enough to know better). My girls are back in school after the longest 17 months in the history of their world; pandemic problems even in the first world suck. They come home hungry and in need of a pick-me-up. I want to give them comfort and listen over a healthy snack. One of my girls’ favorites is my back to school brain food homemade granola bar recipe.
I’ve been making this recipe for almost as long as my girls have been alive. They’ve requested it more times than I can count and I’m not mad at them about it. I love them too. This granola bar recipe is quick, easy and 100% customizable and goes great in breakfast parfaits too.
There is something reassuring and organic about making food with love for your children and knowing what’s in it, no preservatives. In fact, I just made a big batch earlier this week for their first week back to school! It’s Gabi’s first week in high school so I needed to give her all the comfort I could.
I used to make this recipe with the girls and we’d have a blast making it together and enjoying it as a snack with a huge glass of organic milk (wouldn’t do the hormones for my girls..but that is an entirely different post about precocious puberty). These granola bars also make a super awesome topping on French Vanilla yogurt.
Back to School Brain Food Homemade Granola Bar Recipe
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup brown rice flour
- 3/4 cut shredded coconut
- 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 3/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips or raisins or other dried fruit of your choice!
Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl.
Line 9×13 pan with foil and spread mixture.
Granola Bars Goodness
Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes, let cool a bit and then cut into squares.
Wrap in cling wrap and eat within about a week. They are still good after a week, but dry out a bit and become crumbly.
The best part is that it’s so customizable to your family’s taste by simply switching the nuts, dried fruits or adding peanut butter ( or whatever chips you’d prefer) into these delicious granola bars. I promise your kids will be begging you to make this back-to-school brain food homemade granola bar recipe. Eat it alone, with milk, in a parfait or with some fruit as part of a bowl; perfect for breakfast, on the go or an after-school or late-night snack.
