Today’s spotlight is on the Granola Bar.

A granola bar is a snack made from a mixture of oats and other ingredients, such as: Brown sugar, Raisins, Coconut, Nuts. Granola bars are made by mixing granola with honey or other sweetened syrup, then pressing and baking it into a bar shape.

Granola bars are known to be good energy boosters. They can be eaten as a breakfast option on-the-go or after a healthy workout. The nutritional value of granola bars can vary greatly depending on the brand and ingredients used. Many granola bars are full of added sugar, coated in chocolate, and dressed up with a little protein powder.

 

History

Granola was first created in 1863 by Dr. James Caleb Jackson. He made the first granola, called granula, by baking graham flour. He created it for the clients of his health spa in Dansville, New York.  The health spa was called the Jackson Sanitarium and was also known as “Our Home on the Hillside”.

Jackson later formed the Our Home Granula Company to sell the cereal and trademarked the name Granula. Granola became a portable, bar-shaped snack in the 1970s. Stanley Mason is credited with inventing the granola bar.

Mason created over 100 inventions, including a squeezable ketchup bottle and dental floss dispensers. He made a compact form out of loose granola by pressing it to create a bar.

General Mills introduced a granola cereal called Natural Valley Granola in the early 1970s. After finding out that people were using the cereal as a finger food, they introduced a dry and crunchy granola bar under the same name.

Nature Valley introduced its granola bar in 1975. They later introduced more types of granola bars, such as crunchy, chewy, clusters, nut, yogurt coated, and protein packed.

 

Here are some fun facts about granola bars:

• Granola bars are a good source of fiber, which can help with digestion, lower cholesterol, and keep you feeling full.
• Granola bars are high in potassium and low in sodium, which can help fight high blood pressure.
• Granola bars can also increase the flow of clean blood and oxygen to the brain.
• National Granola Bar Day is celebrated on January 21.
• A single serving of granola bar contains around 100–300 calories, 1–10 grams of protein, and 1–7 grams of fiber.

 

Here is a Granola Bar Recipe for you to Try:

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ cups (230 grams) old fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 cup (80 grams) whole almonds, coarsely chopped
• 1/3 cup (113 grams) pure honey
• 1/4 cup (56 grams) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 1/4 cup (50 grams) packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/2 cup (60 grams) dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons (65 grams) mini chocolate chips

 

Instructions:

TOAST OATS AND NUTS

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line the bottom and sides of a 8-inch or 9-inch square pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
2. Add the oats and chopped almonds to a small baking sheet, and then bake for 5 minutes, stir and then bake another 3 to 5 minutes or until lightly toasted. Transfer to a large bowl.

MAKE BARS

1. Combine the butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla extract and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally until butter melts, the mixture is bubbling and the sugar completely dissolves.
2. Pour the butter mixture into the bowl with toasted oats and almonds. Mix well. Let cool about 5 minutes, and then add the cranberries and a 1/4 cup of the mini chocolate chips. Stir to combine. Some of the chocolate chips will melt a little. This is fine, they turn into glue and help to hold the bars together.
3. Transfer the oat mixture to the prepared pan, and then use a rubber spatula or damp finger tips to firmly press the mixture into the pan. Press hard here, this way the bars will stay together once cooled and cut — We press for about one minute to be extra safe.
4. Scatter the remaining 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips over the pressed granola mixture, and then use a rubber spatula to gently press them into the top. Cover then refrigerate for at least 2 hours or freeze for about 30 minutes. Remove the block of granola mixture from pan then peel away the foil or parchment. Cut into 12 bars.

 

Consumption

On average, people consume 1.5 granola bars per year. In 2020, 7.63 million Americans ate five or more packages of Quaker Chewy Granola Bars. In the same year, 165.07 million Americans ate nutritional snacks, including granola.

The granola bar market was valued at $4.56 billion in 2022. It’s expected to reach $5.97 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.87%. In 2022, the granola bar category brought in $1.468 billion in sales, which was an 8.9% increase from the previous year.

 

Celebrating Granola Bars

National Granola Bar Day is celebrated on January 21. The day is meant to promote the consumption of the popular snack. Let us know in the comments if you have ever made home made granola bars.