White Chocolate Cranberry Granola Bars

I was finally able to start exercising this week since I'm still recovering from surgery. It will be at least a month before I'm back up to my 2 hour dance workout, but it feels good to be up and moving again, even if it's just for a half hour a day. After my workout and shower I'm usually starving and love to have some kind of homemade bars around for a quick, nutritious treat. These granola bars that i found on Allrecipes are a little on the chewy side for my tastes, but they are still good. I'll work on tweaking the recipe so I like it, but in the mean time, here's the original recipe:

White Chocolate Cranberry Granola Bars:

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons reduced fat peanut butter
• 1 egg white
• 1 tablespoon fat-free evaporated milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1 1/2 cups crisp rice cereal
• 1/3 cup vanilla or white chips
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
  

Directions

Step-by-step View

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the first seven ingredients; mix well.
Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and allspice; add to the sugar mixture.
Stir in the remaining ingredients.
Press into a 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan coated with nonstick cooking spray.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.
Score the surface with shallow cuts, making rectangular bars.
Cool completely on a wire rack.
Cut along score lines.

Enjoy!
Christina