Granola Squares

My friend Susan gave me this recipe. It's one of those "never exactly the same twice" recipes that is always good. The key is the "extras"- use whatever your people like and leave out what you don't have or what you need to if allergies are an issue. This is one of the few recipes I've done that doesn't work with homemade sweetened condensed milk, but "light" condensed milk works well. If the squares don't hold their shape when you cut them up, the resultant crumble can be used as dessert/yogurt topping, or you could add milk and eat it like granola cereal. I sometimes wrap the squares in plastic as soon as they're cooled, and store them pre-wrapped and ready for school lunches. Be careful, though, these granola squares are a little addictive... Easy to make, yummy to eat- enjoy!


1.5 cups rolled oats

1.5 cups Rice Krispies

Extras to equal 4 cups: raisins, sunflower seeds, chocolate chips, nuts, coconut, sesame seeds, chopped dried fruit, wheat germ, flax seeds ...

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 cup butter or hard margarine, melted

Preheat oven to 325*. Line a jelly roll pan or your largest cookie sheet with tin foil; grease the foil. 

Mix cereal and the rest of the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Mix together sweetened condensed milk and melted butter, then add to dry ingredients. Spread well combined mixture over prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until lightly browned. Let cool slightly, then invert pan onto clean cutting board. Remove pan and peel off foil. Cut into squares while still warm. Store in a cool place in an airtight container. Save the crumbled bits to use as a yogurt topping.