Peanut-Butter Granola Bars

If you're tired of the commercial granola bars, give this one a try. The manager at the gym I go to recommended this recipe and a friend was kind enough to make a batch for me. Delicious. (Original source appears to be a magazine, though I don't know which one.)

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1  large  egg white
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3  tablespoons  vegetable oil
• 1⁄2 cup light brown sugar
• 1⁄2 cup  natural-style peanut butter
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 cup  sliced almonds
• 1⁄2 cup dried cranberries
• 1⁄2 cup old fashioned oats
• 1  tablespoon water

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. Line an 8 inch square baking pan with two criss-crossed rectangles of parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang at opposite ends.
3. In a large bowl, combine oats, almonds and cranberries.
4. In a small saucepan, whisk together oil, brown sugar, peanut butter, cinnamon, salt and water over low heat until the sugar has dissolved, about 5 minutes.
5. Let cool slightly; whisk in egg white.
6. Pour over oat mixture; stir until moistened.
7. Spread evenly in bottom of pan; smooth top.
8. Bake until top is firm, about 30 minutes. Note: The firm top is your best indicator that it's ready - if it's too soft the granola will be crumbly, if it's too hard it will be too brittle.
9. Let cool 10 minutes.
10. Lift out of pan, using paper as handles.
11. Let cool completely, cut into bars with a serrated knife.