Easy Cranberry & Raisin Granola bars

Easy Flapjacks/Granola Bars

Today's post comes from my desire to make a relatively healthy granola bar at home.  Many times I was tempted to just buy a box from the store, but the one I had in my mind was filled with oats, cranberries, raisins and topped with chocolate! Plus, I wanted to make mine less sweet in comparison to store bought bars. Another instigator of wanting to bake 'something' is because I purchased an absolutely gorgeous Emile Henry baking dish recently - as can be seen in these pictures.

These bars were first introduced to me by my mentors P&R on sunday nights in London, Ontario when Pam would bring out what looked to us like Granola bars, but what she called 'flapjacks' in Britain. Needless to say they were delicious! 

Ingredients

• 1/3 Cup of Sugar
• 1/2 Cup butter 
• 1/3 Cup corn syrup
• 4 1/2 - 5 Cups oats
• 1 Cup raisins
• 1 Cup craisins
• dark chocolate or milk chocolate bars or chips (your preference)

Directions

1. In a heat proof bowl,  mix sugar, butter, and corn syrup together. Melt in the microwave until it forms a consistent mixture.
2. Mix oats, raisins and craisins into the bowl.
3. Once all ingredients are mixed together, spread the mixture into a rectangular pan. Use a spoon to flatten.
4. Bake at 325F for 20-30 minutes.
5. Take out of oven. 
6. Spread chocolate on top as it will be warm enough to melt the chocolate.
7. Allow to cool.
8. Cut into slices before it completely cools and hardens.
9. These flapjacks/granola bars can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.