Homemade granola bars are a quick and easy after school snack. These Strawberry M&M Granola Bars were just the thing for a day full of sports practice.
I had so many random thought going through my head this morning as I edited these pictures bright and early...
1. I love that these granola bars are one of my kids favorite treats. Even their friends ask for more granola bars.
2. Why can't I just make the same flavor twice? Apparently I have flavor issues...
3. I really should have ironed the fabric before setting up my photo shoot. That crease down the middle is driving me bonkers.
4. I like candy and chocolate. Enter a healthy breakfast/snack food and what do I do to it? Add M&M's and drizzle it with chocolate, of course.
5. Where's the milk or coffee in this picture? I must have been in a hurry to take these pictures and not realized that I never added something to the cup.
6. There were so many green and yellow M&M's in the bag that I bought. I really wish there had been more pink and purple ones...for some reason I liked eating those colors better.
7. I hope no one thinks these Strawberry M&M Granola Bars look gross. Although, I wouldn't be surprised by emails telling me how much they look like raw meat. It's pink because of the powdered milk people!!!!
8. I really wish there were more granola bars in my kitchen today. I guess I know what I am baking later this afternoon. But which flavor?
More homemade granola bar recipes:
- Caramel Apple Granola Bars
- Whoppers Granola Bars
- Raspberry Hot Chocolate Granola Bars
- White Chocolate Caramel Granola Bars
- No Bake Fruity Pebbles Granola Bars
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Strawberry Granola Bars
Homemade granola bars are the perfect after school treat. These get their flavor from using powdered strawberry milk. The M&M's and chocolate are just a fun added bonus to snack time.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ cups quick oats
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ounce bag freeze dried strawberries, cut into small pieces
- ½ cup diced almonds
- ½ cup miniature chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat again.
- In another bowl, stir together the flour, oats, and salt. Slowly add to the creamed mixture.
- Stir together the chopped strawberries, almonds, and chocolate chips. Set aside ¼ cup. Stir the rest gently into the batter.
- Spread the dough into a greased 9x13 pan. Sprinkle the top with the extra toppings. Bake for 20 minutes. Let cool completely before cutting.
- Cut into 16 bars. Store in a sealed container for up to a week.
Notes
Optional: Melt ¼ cup white chocolate melting wafers and drizzle over the tops of the cooled bars.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 282Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 120mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 2gSugar: 18gProtein: 4g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl
LOL, I didn't notice any of those things until you pointed them out; I was too busy looking at the granola bars! My kiddo would LOVE these (he's a big fan of anything strawberry). I think I'll make some next week for after school snacks!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha! I guess I shouldn't point out all the crazy "wrong" things in my pictures then! I hope you guys like the granola bars!!!
Andrea
What a great recipe! I know my kids will love this, thanks for sharing. Stopping by from Mom on Timeout 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Glad to have you here for a visit! I hope your kids like the bars!
Brenda@SweetSimpleStuff
I get all the thoughts that ran thru your head ... similar ones run thru mine. I used to be such an 'ironer' ... then my friend told me how she used a spray bottle with water and uses her hand to smooth out the fabric ... I am now a 'hand ironer' 🙂 All of your photos look great to me ... the granola bars too! Your comments/thoughts crack me up!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Oh, great tip! I will definitely remember that for next time 🙂
Tieghan
These are so cute! My little sister is sitting next to me and she said we HAVE to make these because they are pink!! So we will be making these!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Yay! I can't wait to hear what you guys think of them!!! PInk treats are so fun!
Emily ~So Domesticated~
These look fantastic... the colors are perfect for Spring!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you Emily. Spring colors are just so fun after a long winter!!!
Nancy
I didn't notice the crease or the empty cup 'til you mentioned them. And the meat comment was too funny... You always make me smile. I love the colors in today's pictures and the bars look very tempting.
Jocelyn Brubaker
haha! I figured everyone would get a laugh from my random thoughts in the morning!!!
Elizabeth @ Confessions of a Baking Queen
I barely had any pink in my bag they were all yellow! Like tons and tons of yellow! I was pissed!! They make be the same color as raw meat but damn they look a lot better than raw meat 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Oh my word...mine was mostly yellows and green too!!! I wonder why they didn't make enough of the pretty colors?
Elise @ Paint Chips & Frosting
They do sort of look like raw meat!! They look delicious, anyway - love the color!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha! I knew I couldn't be the only one who thought it looked like meat. Thanks for helping me out!!!
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel
I'm super loving that you made strawberry flavored granola bars. I am in LOVE with strawberry milk (even more so than chocolate!) so I know I'd flip for these. Plus, M&M's def. help with making me happy in the morning when I don't want to do anything but sleep! 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
My son goes through strawberry milk like crazy too 🙂 M&M coated anything helps mornings be a little bit more bearable....I am so not a morning person!
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain
My dad and brother are addicted to strawberry milk - these would be AWESOME breakfast treats for them!! And who doesn't love a granola bar covered in m&ms?! 😉
Jocelyn Brubaker
Granola bars covered in M&M's are definitely way better to love! Sounds to me like your dad and brother need these bars ASAP 🙂
Gloria @ Simply Gloria
These look so gorgeous! Love the strawberry AND mms! These are a MUST try! Thanks, Jocelyn for sharing these!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you Gloria! Let me know if you do give the granola bars a try...they are seriously our favorite no matter what flavor I try.
Shannon @ Searching For Dessert
Using strawberry Quik was a great idea for these! I think my son would love them (and me too)!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Shannon!!!
Tanya Schroeder
Are you kidding? The ONLY thing I noticed about these pictures are the granola bars!! I noticed I was drooling too! I love the pink color! Raw meat? I'm sorry, that's just odd!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Hahaha! Yeah, I'm kind of an oddball 🙂
Annie @ Annie's Noms
These definitely look delicious and I didn't even notice the fact your mug was empty as I was too busy eyeing up all the M&M's 😛 I really need to make granola bars more often, I bet they taste great with strawberry milk powder! I eat granola for breakfast every morning, but it's store bought as I'm lazy and never plan for breakfast, I always end up baking cakes instead! Have to try these!
Jocelyn Brubaker
I am just way more critical of my pictures...which tells me I don't really need to be that hard on myself if no one else is noticing these random things 🙂 Definitely give the homemade granola bars a go...so much better than the store bought. And they are so easy to make up!!!
sally @ sallys baking addiction
another fabulous granola bar recipe from Jocelyn. 🙂 I opened a bag of easter m&ms over the weekend and there were about 10 pinks. What a disappointment! And I don't think these look gross at all!
Jocelyn Brubaker
I was so disappointed in the color ratio in the M&M bag. I was really wanting more pinks and purples...but I guess all of them taste the same anyway!!!
Lolly Jane
Raw meat?! HAHA! They look yummy, my kids'll love them I'm sure!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Kids definitely love these bars! And as for looking like meat...I guess I'm the only one that thought that 🙂
Aimee @ ShugarySweets
Ooooh these sound amazing girl. As for the raw meat, LOL, I seriously laughed. And now that you mention it.... 😉
Jocelyn Brubaker
Seriously...doesn't it kind of remind you of that???
Karissa K. @ Sweet As A Cookie
It never crossed my mind that these look like raw meat... but I giggled when I read that.
It must be granola bar Wednesday because I'm posting a granola bar recipe too today, lol.
I have a pile of strawberry quik powder lying around I'll have to make these to use it up 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Apparently I'm the only one who thought meat when I saw them, so I guess that's a good thing. I'm thinking these granola bars should be on your baking list, since you already have the strawberry quik 🙂
liz
Jocelyn....you pointed out all the things I didn't even notice! LOL, you're too funny! 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Hahaha...I figured no one else would probably notice the funny things I think about when editing. It made for a different/fun kind of a post!!!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust
I got skimped on the pink too!!!! Crazy. And, oh the ironing. I like using the napkins straight from the store. Once I wash I tend not to use them again, lol. LOVE these granola bars, someday I'll make some. And I have flavor issues too....always a new flavor!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Pink must have not been a popular color for those M&M's! You so need to try the homemade granola bars...they are so much better than store bought!!!
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet
Lol! I never want to make the same twice either. I feel I have to keep mixing it up for the kids! I have done s'mores flavored and that was a big hit, also oreo flavored. Though it would be cool to try and add some peeps to it, you know, because they are in season now! 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Oh, Oreo granola bars sound like something I might need to try next 🙂 Glad I'm not the only one who likes to change things up every time!!!
Jennifer @ Not Your Momma's Cookie
I don't think these look gross at all! They look awesome to me 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Jennifer 🙂