Granola Bars

I was watching Ree Drummond make these granola bars on her show this week. I thought they looked absolutely delicious. Boy, was I right! You may add any variations of nuts or dried fruit that you wish.

6 cups rolled oats (not quick oats)
1/4 cup canola oil
4 TBS butter, melted, plus more for greasing
1 tsp salt
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup apple juice
1/4 cup molasses
3 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups rice cereal
1 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
1/4 cup roughly chopped almonds (I used about 1/3 cup)
8 ounces milk chocolate, melted (I used dark chocolate chips)

I also added:
1 cup dried cherries
1/3 cup cashews
1/3 cup sunflower seeds

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

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.

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 (and any other fruit or nuts). Pour in the sugar mixture, stirring as you pour. Toss to combine; it will be sticky.

Press into a 10x15 baking sheet (throughly greased with butter) and bake until golden, about 25 minutes. 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.

Dip the cooled granola bars straight into the melted chocolate so that the top is plain and the bottom is chocolate covered. Set on parchment until set, sticking in the fridge to hasten this along if necessary.

These would also be good with dates or dried cranberries.

Source: Ree Drummond, Pioneer Woman, Food Network

Eileen