Recipe adapted from 100 Days of Real Food. Lovingly nicknamed Birdseed Granola because of it’s tendency to cause your husband to exclaim, “Is this birdseed you’re feeding me?”
Birdseed Granola Bars
- 3 1/2 cups steel cut oats
- 1 cup raw cashew pieces (or other nut)
- 1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon grated or ground nutmeg
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 teaspoons vanilla (see my recipe for real vanilla!)
1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Prepare a rectangular pan (I like 100 Days suggestion of using parchment paper).
2. Mix steel cut oats, cashews, sunflower seeds and spices in a large mixing bowl.
3. Heat butter and honey together in a small saucepan over low heat. Once the butter melts, remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
4. Pour over the dry ingredients and stir together with a rubber spatula until evenly coated.
5. Spread mixture onto prepared pan in one even layer. Bake for 75 minutes. (yes, really)
Granola becomes crisp as it cools (if you can wait that long). I break it into bar-sized pieces; however, uniformity is next to impossible.
Store in air tight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Love this stuff!
Carolyn says
Could you replace the steel cut oats for rolled oats?
Amy says
Yes, you absolutely can!
Megan says
Amy –
Do you cook the steel cut oats before you make it or do they just soften during baking?
They look yummie.
Blessings,
Megan
Amy says
I do not cook them. I like the crunch! 🙂
Helen says
I’m making this! Thanks for sharing!
‘Lucy’
Colette says
I wonder if you cut them or “scored” them with a pizza cutter while they were still somewhat warm if they’d break into nice even little pieces…just an idea. These sound so good, My mom always made our own granola mix and we loved it, so I’m sure we’ll like these too. I’m headed to the grocery store today and I think I’ll be picking up a couple extra things 🙂 Thanks for the recipe.
Amy says
That is an excellent idea! Definitely trying this next time.
Christy says
Love your blog. Thanks for sharing your journey with us and for your encouraging tone.
Really appreciate the recipes, content, and your heart for the Lord.
Bless you!
Christy
Amy says
Thank you so much, Christy! I pray diligently God would be the Lord of this blog…and everything I do. 🙂
Judy @ Contented at Home says
The title of ths post made me think that perhaps this recipe contained millet–now that really would be birdseed! LOL Love that this granola actually forms bars! I may have to try it. 🙂
Dana Freeman says
I am going to have to make this granola. We love granola and we love steel cut oats. Never really thought about making granola with the steel cut oats. We are always making it with the rolled ones. Thanks for the recipe!
Tara says
These are fantastic! I used what I had in my house. Hemp seeds for the sunflower seeds, almonds for the cashews and agave for the honey. They are crunchy and hearty and so tasty!
Amy says
Yay! Sounds yummy your way too!