Chocolate Cinnamon Energy Bar

This is the first of many recipes that were in the cookbook made for me by my students and parents.  I could not have asked for a better teacher appreciation gift.  This has now become a family favorite.

Chocolate Cinnamon Energy Bar

B.R.

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ cups rolled oats (5)
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar (1 1/3) - I used extra honey
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (1)
• 1 cup all purpose four (2) - I used white whole wheat
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda (1/2)
• ½ cup mini chocolate morsels (1) I used Chocolate chip/ chunk recipe
• ½ teaspoon salt (1)
• ½ cup honey (1)
• ½ cup vegetable oil (1) I used olive oil
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract (1T)
• ¼ cup raisins (1/2) optional
• ¼ cup chopped nuts (1/2) optional

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line a 9 by 13 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
3. In a large bowl mix together dry ingredients: oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, flour, baking soda, chocolate morsels and salt.
4. Add honey, oil, and vanilla extract, plus any optional nuts and raisins.
5. Mix well and spoon into baking pan.
6. Place a piece of wax paper over the top of the mixture.
7. Using a rolling pin, press mixture firmly into the pan until evenly distributed and smooth on top.
8. Bake 25 to 30 minutes until bars are slightly darker at the edges than the center.
9. Cool on a wire rack in the pan for 10-15 minutes.
10. Cut with a pizza cutter into 3-by-1-inch bars while still warm.
11. Cool completely.
12. Store in an airtight container or freeze.

(NOTE:I double the recipe () and bake in a large bar pan to get thick chewy bars instead of thin crunchy bars.)