Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent sticking.

Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and granola (or rolled oats, if using). If using oats, stir in 1/2 to 1 cup of chopped nuts and/or dried fruit for added texture and flavor.

Step 3: In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and your chosen sweetener (maple syrup, honey, or packed brown sugar) until smooth and well combined.

Step 4: Add the egg yolks to the butter and sweetener mixture, mixing until fully incorporated. Stir in the vanilla extract and ground cinnamon, if using.

Step 5: Gradually add the dry ingredients (flour and granola or oats mixture) to the wet mixture, mixing until a crumbly dough forms. If the dough is too dry, you can add a bit more butter or a splash of milk to help it come together.

Step 6: Press half of the dough mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form the base layer.

Step 7: Arrange the halved plums, skin side down, evenly over the base layer of the dough. If desired, lightly sprinkle the plums with a little sugar to enhance their sweetness.

Step 8: Sprinkle the remaining dough mixture evenly over the plums, pressing it gently into place.

Step 9: Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the plum juices are bubbling. The edges should be crisp and the center should be set.

Step 10: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before cutting them into squares or bars.

Step 11: Enjoy your homemade plum granola bars! Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, or refrigerate for longer freshness.

Summary:

1. Preheat Oven: 375°F (190°C).
2. Prepare Pan: Line or grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
3. Mix Dry Ingredients: Flour, granola or oats, and optional nuts and dried fruit.
4. Cream Wet Ingredients: Butter, sweetener, egg yolks, vanilla, cinnamon.
5. Combine: Mix dry ingredients into the wet mixture.
6. Assemble: Press half the dough into the pan, add plums, top with remaining dough.
7. Bake: 35-40 minutes until golden brown and bubbly.
8. Cool and Cut: Let cool before cutting into bars.

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What I Learned

The crust mixture is quite flexible. If you don’t have granola, you can easily substitute it with chopped walnuts, almonds, pecans, or any nuts you like.

For a more pastry-like texture, use 4 cups of flour with 4 sticks of butter and omit the granola and oats but do add some chopped walnuts.

The plums, whether they’re soft or firm, will become wonderfully tender during baking. Just be careful not to overbake.

If you’re using a cookie sheet, reduce the baking time to 25-30 minutes since the bars will be thinner and cook more quickly—keep an eye on them to prevent burning.

A 9x13-inch pan is perfect for achieving bars with a nice thickness of about 1 to 1.5 inches, which is ideal for granola bars.

And if fresh plums aren’t available, plum jam works just as well, offering a deliciously sweet and tart flavor. (see our homemade plum jam recipe without pectin.