Here’s a DIY healthy snack recipe that’s 100% worth making at home, if you’re got the time: Homemade Granola Bars! Packaged bars are ultra convenient: we buy them for on-the-go snacks. But the flavor of a homemade bar is infinitely more delicious! The secret here? Lightly toasting the oats brings out a delightfully nutty undertone. Mix them with honey, peanut butter and cinnamon for a pure, wholesome flavor: and add any mix-ins you’d like. Mini-chocolate chips are our favorite: they add a hint of sweetness to what still qualifies as a healthy bar (we think).
Ingredients in this chewy granola bars recipe
This granola bars recipe results in a chewy bar: it’s a no bake recipe that’s the opposite of the crunchy, baked variety. But there’s one spot where you’ll fire up the oven: for toasting the oats. Otherwise, it’s a dump and stir method! Here’s what you’ll need for this healthy granola bars recipe:
Creamy peanut butter (or sunflower butter for nut free)Honey (or agave syrup for vegan)Old Fashioned rolled oatsCinnamonSaltMix ins: nuts, dried fruit, seeds, or mini chocolate chips
The flavor key: toasting the oats
This recipe is for no bake granola bars: with the exception of a quick 10-minute stint in the oven for the oats! Don’t even think about omitting this step. Here’s why:
Toasting the oats adds major nutty, irresistible flavor. You might be tempted to skip this part, but it’s absolutely worth it! The flavor it adds is incredible. You’ll need just 10 minutes at 350 degrees. It’s quick and simple, and easiest in the oven because it lets you place all the oats in a single layer in a pan. (Technically you can toast oats on the stovetop, which we do in our Toasted Oatmeal recipe.)
Important note on granola bars mix-ins
Mix-ins are where you can get creative in these granola bars! A wide variety of nuts, seeds and dried fruit will work. But here’s an important thing to remember:
Finely chop the mix-ins so the bars hold together. Huge nuts and seeds cause the texture of the granola bars to become more fragile, making them break more easily. Use mini chocolate chips, not standard size. Same idea as above: the standard size may cause texture issues. Mini chocolate chips are just the right size for incorporating in a granola bar. Just ½ cup gives great bursts of chocolate flavor. You can chop standard sized chocolate chips if it’s all you have.
Cutting granola bars
After you press your granola bars into a pan and freeze for 10 minutes, they’re ready to cut! You can cut them into different shapes, depending on what you’re looking for. The traditional granola bar rectangle is what you see here, but you can also do squares and get more servings out of it.
Cut 14 bar sized shapes: measure each to 4 ½ by 1 ¼ inchesCut 20 rectangles: measure them to be 4 x 5 inches
Store refrigerated (chill a few hours before serving)
This chewy granola bars recipe is best after refrigerating for a few hours, which helps the texture to firm up. Technically you can eat them right away, but we prefer them chilled so they become more solid. You can store homemade granola bars for up to 3 weeks in a sealed container. If you’d like, you can also individually wrap them in wax paper or parchment paper and secure them with tape.
Granola bar flavor combinations
Our favorite flavor for this recipe? Chewy chocolate chip granola bars, of course! But there are so many more fun flavor combinations. Here are some ideas to get your wheels turning:
Peanut butter and jelly: add dried cherries or freeze dried strawberriesDried cranberry and white chocolate chipsPepita and cashewBlueberry muffin: add dried blueberries and chopped almondsPecan pie: Add chopped pecans and ½ teaspoon allspiceCoconut mango: Add shredded coconut and chopped dried mango
What are you planning to add to your granola bars? Let us know in the comments below!
More healthy energy bars
There are so many ways to make a healthy energy bar recipe at home! Here are a few more to try starring peanut butter and oats:
Try our fan favorite Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars (must try!) Or, go round with Peanut Butter Energy Balls or No Bake Energy BitesOpt for healthy and Easy Oatmeal BarsTry a Pecan Energy Bar Recipe
This healthy granola bars recipe is…
Vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free. For vegan and plant-based, use agave syrup. 5 from 5 reviews
