Kids in the Kitchen

Skill Level: Beginning
Cooking Skill Taught: How to Grease a Pan
Related Lesson Plan

Granola bars are a simple healthy snack for young children to make and a great way to teach the skill of greasing a pan, and what is meant my “grease a pan.”

This easy recipe produces a granola bar that is a little chewy, not the dried-out cardboard type of stuff you’ll find at the grocery store and one the whole family will love.

McKayla made her first batch about a month ago (she was six at the time) following the basic recipe below. It was gone much too quickly so the next time we made six cookie sheets full. We also added a lot more ingredients to make it even healthier. (Hint: kids are much more likely to each it if they make it themselves. So it is a great way to get them to eat things they may not otherwise.)

How to Make - Recipe for Kid Friendly Granola Bars

• 6 cups quick-cooking oats
• 3* (14 ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk (can use fat-free)
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• 3 cups flaked coconut
• 2 cups sliced almonds
• 2 cups milk chocolate chips
• 1 cup sweetened dried cranberries

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (F).
2. Grease a cookie sheet.
3. Put all the dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix together.
4. Add the sweetened-condensed milk and stir well. Be sure to mix it well as it holds the bar together. We used our hands covered with disposable gloves. It’s much easier for kids.
5. Press it into the greased cookie sheet and pat it down slightly to even it out.
6. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. You’ll know it is ready when the edges get slightly brown.
7. The bars can be difficult to cut when cooled, so cut them when they have cooled slightly and when still fairly warm (a job for mom or dad).

* Reduce for crunchy bars.
Additional add-ins to make it healthier and add extra fiber to the diet. Here is what we added the second time we made it:

• Pumpkin Seeds
• Dry-roasted Peanuts
• Raisins
• Sesame Seeds
• Wheat Germ
• Wheat Bran
• Rolled Wheat Flakes

Note: You’ll need to increase the sweetened-condensed milk when you add more ingredients to hold it together. A general guideline is 1 can for every 3 to 4 cups of ingredients, but that varies depending on the type of ingredient and the chewiness you desire.