Oat Granola Bars – Gluten, Nut, Dairy Free +12M

Granola bars are such a convenient snack for the kids. Easy to hold, easy on-the-go solution and loaded with nutrients.

You can find great organic kid friendly options at the grocery store, still, preparing homemade granola bars is so easy that you might consider to give it a try! In addition to that, homemade granola bars have only the ingredients that you decide and, as you can imagine, are way less expensive than the store bought ones.

Another big plus: you can size them following your toddler/kid appetite. No more food waste 🙂

This recipe is my older kid’s favorite one: oat granola with maple syrup. The bars are naturally gluten + egg + dairy + nut free. Perfect for kids with allergies 🙂

Considering the maple syrup involved (yes, a natural and lovely sweetener, but still an added sugar) I would suggest the recipe for toddlers, starting from 12 months of age.

The procedure is so simple that my Luca (he’s 8yrs) made few batches by himself with my supervision only 🙂

In a large bowl mix all the dry ingredients starting from the old fashioned oats, the rice cereals. I like to use unsweetened rice cereals, not to exaggerate with the sugars. I also add the oat flour. If you don’t have oat flour available there is a trick: blend old fashioned oats for few minutes in a food processor and you will get your oat flour!!

I also add coconut sugar or cane sugar will work too, altogether with baking soda and a pinch of salt.

On top of the dry ingredients add all the wet ingredients starting from the maple syrup. You can substitute maple syrup with molasses for a deeper and caramelized flavor. Coconut oil, vanilla extract and hemp seeds are the last ingredients.

Combine well.

Line a baking sheet with some parchment paper. Transfer the mix.

Level the oat mix with a spoon, press to compact as much as possible. The more compact the less friable the bars will be.

Bake in preheated oven to 350F for 30/35 min or until golden brown. Remove from the oven.

Place another parchment paper foil on top of the granola and press again with a flat surface (I used the bottom of a glass container). Let it cool down 15 min and cut in as many bars and as big or small as you like!!

Storage: here in LA can get very hot (the countertop can reach 80F easily during the day) so I store the bars in the refrigerator. They will last up to 1 month and a half without any problem…but knowing my family I know they will be gone in 2 weeks 🙂