Granola Bar Goodies

Somehow I had forgotten about this recipe!  I made it a lot last spring.  Since I gave up sweets again this year for Lent, I went back to these tried and true granola bars.  There are two versions posted below: the version I make during Lent and the recipe I usually follow. 

Soft & Chewy Oatmeal Granola Bars
(adapted from this recipe) 

1 cup old fashioned oats - divided use
1/2 cup cereal - divided use (I either use a Fiber One cereal or Honey Nut Cheerios)
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup coconut flakes
1 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
2 tsps vanilla extract
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup molasses
5 Tbs honey

Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line a 9x9 baking pan with parchment paper.

Place 3/4 cup of the oats, 1/4 cup of the cereal, and raisins in either a food processor or blender a pulse a bit to chop down the composition of the ingredients.  Place this in your mixing bowl along with the coconut, baking soda, salt, vanilla, flour, oil, molasses, and honey.  Mix until ingredients are well combined.  Add in the remaining 1/4 cup of oats and 1/4 cup of cereal.  Mix until just incorporated.  Your dough should be the consistency of cookie dough, however it will be much stickier.  Using a spatula (which you can spray with nonstick to make this process smoother) transfer the mixture to the baking pan.  Bake for 18 minutes.

Original Soft & Chewy Oatmeal Granola Bars       
(adapted from same recipe linked above)
 
1 cup old fashioned oats - divided use
1/2 cup cereal - divided use (I either use a Fiber One cereal or Honey Nut Cheerios)
1/4 cup raisins
1/2 chocolate chips
1 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
2 tsps vanilla extract
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup molasses
5 Tbs honey

Use same directions as above.

Which version did you try?  I hope they become one of your favorites as they have definitely become one of mine!!