Kid Safe Nut Free Granola Food

NUT FREE CHEWY GRANOLA BARS

Steps:

• Line an 8x8 inch pan with parchment paper. Spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a mixing bowl, combine oats, salt and cinnamon.
• In small saucepan, combine honey and coconut oil. Cook over medium heat until bubbly. Turn the heat off and stir in the vanilla.
• Pour honey mixture into the oats and stir until well combined.
• Stir in pepitas and dried cranberries if adding. Once the mixture has cooled slightly, add in chocolate chips.
• Spoon mixture into your parchment lined pan and spread evenly. Spray a small amount of cooking spray onto your hands and press the mixture firmly into the pan so that it stays together.
• Place the pan in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Remove the bars with the parchment paper and cut into 12 even bars. Enjoy!

KID SAFE (NUT FREE) GRANOLA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Combine oats, cereal, and wheat germ or flaxseed in large bowl.
• Heat brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, oil, and salt in saucepan just until sauce melts together.
• Remove from heat, add vanilla, stir, and add to oat mixture.
• Thoroughly fold sauce into the cereal. This takes a bit of patience and the cereal mixture will appear a bit dry.
• Spread onto greased jelly roll pan.
• Bake approximately 20 minutes, taking out to stir (so the edges don't burn) every 6 or 7 minutes, until it is toasted to your liking. I like it nice and crunchy so I let mine go about 24 minutes or so normally.
• Cool, stirring every 5 minutes or so to ensure that it doesn't clump together too much - it will not harden in "clusters," rather it ends up a little looser like cereal, which is great for sprinkling over yogurt.
• Store in airtight container.
• *VARIATION for adults: Replace crisp rice cereal with 2 cups nuts of choice - almonds, walnuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, etc. or combination. Follow remainder of recipe as directed.