There are regular 'ol store bought granola bars, and then there are Molasses & Ginger Chew Granola Bars.
Let me explain...
Reaction to regular 'ol store bought granola bars: Bite, mindless chewing and swallowing while perusing Facebook... er... work... I mean work of course, and polish off the granola bar without even really noticing you ate it.
Reaction to Molasses & Ginger Chew Granola Bars: Bite, a couple of chews, eyes widen, groan with delight, frantically look around the room to tell the first person you see how ridiculously tasty these are, mumble something along the lines of "mmmrrtheese mmare soo gmoooodddd", try not to eat the entire batch in one go.
Now THAT is the reaction I want in a granola bar. The spicy and sweet candied ginger, the full and seasonal flavour of molasses, the soft pecans, and the chewy caramel coated oats make one mighty fine bar.
This is what happened when I decided to test them out during a dinner party. They became an accidental appetizer, not really appetizer like material here, but no one could resist! Once one guest had a taste, the whole party had to give them a go and I witnessed the same reaction over and over again. Now I don't suggest serving these as appetizers, but that just gives you a clue as to how divine these are!
To make the bars, there are a few steps, but they are all super easy. If not already chopped, chop up the candied ginger and pecans. Set the ginger aside for now.
Spread the oats and pecans on a baking dish and toast them in the oven. Now, let's be honest, you don't HAVE to toast the oats and pecans, but if you do take the time to do this, it helps enhance the flavours and make them just that much more amazing.
While the oats are toasting, mix together the molasses, brown sugar, coconut oil, vanilla extract, powdered ginger, and salt in a small saucepan, and put over medium heat. Stir to combine. Heat until the sugar is dissolved, about 5 mins.
Add the toasted oats and pecans, the molasses mixture, and the chopped candied ginger to a large bowl, and mix well until everything is evenly coated.
Scoop the granloa mixture into a 9" x 9" baking pan lined with parchment paper, and use a spatula to spread the mixture out, and pack it down firmly, so the bars are compact and won't fall apart.
For a final touch, you can choose to sprinkle a little more chopped ginger and pecans across the top, then use the spatula to press them in as well. This step is optional, but it just makes the bars a little more decorative, so I like to do it.
Put the pan in the fridge to set for about 1.5 hours, or until completely chilled and firmed up. Run a knife around the sides of the pan if the bars are sticking, then use the excess parchment paper to pull the whole thing out. Now use a large knife to cut 14 bars. Store in an airtight container. For softer bars, store at room temperature, for firmer bars, store in the fridge.
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Molasses & Ginger Chew Granola Bars
Servings: Bars
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Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups rolled oats, (gluten-free if preferred)
- ½ cup pecans,, chopped
- ⅓ cup fancy molasses
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon powdered ginger
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup candied ginger,, chopped
Extra toppings (optional:
- 2 tablespoons pecans,, chopped
- 2 tablespoons candied ginger,, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F (180C). Spread the oats and pecans out on a large baking sheet and bake in the oven for 10 mins. This step is optional but helps to bring out the flavours of the oats and pecans.
- Line a 9" x 9" baking sheet with parchment paper leaving extra parchment paper on the sides to create handles, and set aside.
- In a small saucepan, add the molasses, brown sugar, coconut oil, vanilla extract, powdered ginger, and salt and put over medium heat. Stir while heating until the sugar is dissolved, about 5 mins.
- In a large bowl, mix together the oats, pecans, candied ginger. Pour in the molasses mixture and combine well. Scoop the mixture into the pan lined with parchment and use a spatula to press the mixture firmly down until everything is smooth and firmly packed.
- For the toppings, sprinkle the pecans and ginger over the top of the bars, and use a spatula to press the toppings into the granola bars. Put the pan in the fridge for 1.5 hours or until completely chilled and firm. Us a large knife to cut into 14 bars. Store in an airtight container. For softer bars, store at room temperature, for firmer bars, store in the fridge.
Notes
Nutrition
Bon appetegan!
Sam.
Meredith says
I wanted to love this recipe.i LOVE the flavor choices.... however, not enough molasses flavor, the ginger was non existent. the bars did not hold together at all despite overnight in the fridge after being pressed in the pan. they came out as crumbly chewy clusters that need help in the flavor dept. im
going to try toasting the failed batch after re-seasoning. then try it again w different (and more! ginger) using a recipe for baked bars that has worked for me in the past.
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
Sorry to hear they didn't turn out well, Meredith!
Meredith says
can you substitute unsweetened applesauce for the oil, as with other baked goods, to reduce the fat?
Gabbi says
Made these with treacle, delicious!!! Hard to eat just one though..... thanks Sam, am always sending friends and family the link to your website because I know whichever one of your recipes they try they’ll love it xx
Sam Turnbull says
Aww that's awesome, thank you!
Theresa De Young says
Does the ginger have to be candied? Looking for a healtheir snack bar. I'm a snacker trying to stay back from to much unnatural sugars. Thanks!
Sam Turnbull says
If you found dried not candied ginger that would work, but fresh ginger would be too wet and too intense if flavour. Hope that helps!
Vicki says
I just discovered your blog and am excited to try out your recipes! Just wondering about making these nut-free so my kids can take them to school. Would they work without the pecans or if not, what would suggest as a nut-free substitution? Thanks!
Sam says
Hi Vicki,
Welcome! Yes, the granola bars will work just fine without the pecans. I hope you like the recipe 🙂
Anne E. McGuigan says
Hi Sam,
Finally went grocery shopping and purchased the required pecans. Made these beauties this morning. I used organic black strap molasses because refined molasses is often not plant based. I cut the molasses with raw organic agave, but the result is still a little darker than yours. Still looks good though.
Take care,
Anne
Sam says
Yum, sounds delish!! I hope you enjoy them 🙂
Brooke of Passport Couture says
Biting into a chewy, homemade granola bar sounds awesome to me! I'm always excited to make something like this because homemade has such better flavor and is more enjoyable to eat and make.
Sam says
Yes, they are really flavourful, homemade is almost always going to be better than store-bought anything! 🙂
Anne E. McGuigan says
Hi Sam,
These look very tasty. I am planning to try them today, but am wondering about the instruction to preheat the oven. .....to bake or not to bake?
Anne
Sam says
Hi Anne,
Yes, I can see how that might have been a little confusing, I reorganized the steps to make it more clear. The oven is for toasting the oats and pecans only. The bars don't get baked. Hope that helps, let me know if you have any more questions. 🙂
Kay says
"The bars don't get baked." Lol, yeah, me neither.