Home > Breakfast > Homemade Granola Bars Homemade Granola Bars July 3, 2020 | 13 Comments SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Jump to Recipe This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. Make these easy Homemade Granola Bars with oats, nuts, honey, and a little bit of chocolate for good measure! For a chocolate-loaded version, try these Chocolate Granola Bars next! Healthy Homemade Granola Bars My kids love homemade granola bars, which we take on all our outings. These bars are a healthier and tastier alternative to store-bought ones, packed with nutritious grains. Easy to make, I prepare batches twice weekly in about 20-25 minutes. The recipe includes toasting nuts and oats for a rich, roasted flavor. QUICK TIP If you aren’t a fan of cashews and almonds try one of these other ideas: pistachios, walnuts, pecans, peanuts, or hazelnuts! Ingredients In Homemade Granola Bars Old-fashioned oats: Provide structure and a chewy texture. They’re the base of the bars. Cashews and almonds: Add crunch and nutty flavor. They also contribute healthy fats and protein. Honey: Acts as a natural sweetener and helps bind the ingredients together. Unsalted butter: Adds richness and helps in binding the mixture. Brown sugar: Offers sweetness and moisture, contributing to the texture. Fine sea salt: Enhances overall flavor. Vanilla extract: Adds a subtle aroma and flavor to the homemade granola bars. Toasted coconut flakes (optional): Provide a unique flavor and texture. Miniature chocolate chips: Add sweetness and a bit of chocolate flavor. Half is mixed in to help bind the bars, while the rest is sprinkled on top for extra taste and appearance. How To Make Homemade Granola Bars Preheat & Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a pan with parchment paper. Toast Oats & Nuts: Toast oats and nuts for 4-6 mins. Make Syrup: Heat honey, butter, sugar, and salt until smooth. Combine & Add Chocolate: Mix oats, nuts, syrup, and vanilla. Add chocolate chips. Press & Chill: Press into the pan, top with more chips, and chill homemade granola bars for 1 hour. Cut Bars: Lift using parchment paper and cut into bars. VARIATIONS Variations Nuts: Use any coarsely chopped nuts – single variety, the two mentioned, or a mix of three (up to 1/2 cup). Chocolate chips: Opt for dark chocolate for healthier bars or substitute with dried cranberries, raisins, or extra coconut. Chocolate helps with binding. Butter: Replace with 1/4 cup coconut oil (in its hardened state). Bars may be slightly more crumbly and need refrigeration. Spices: Add 1/2 to 1 tsp of pumpkin pie spice, apple pie spice, or cinnamon for fall flavors. Salted topping: Sprinkle sea salt flakes on individual homemade granola bars for a salty chocolate twist (omit from the base). More Healthy Snacks Chocolate Protein Balls Granola No Bake Energy Bites Oatmeal Breakfast Bars No Bake Granola Bars FOLLOW ALONG! Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates, recipes and content. Homemade Granola Bars 5 from 7 votes - Review this recipe These easy Homemade Granola Bars are made with oats, nuts, honey, and a little bit of chocolate for good measure! SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Homemade Granola Bars 5 from 7 votes - Review this recipe SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe These easy Homemade Granola Bars are made with oats, nuts, honey, and a little bit of chocolate for good measure! Course Breakfast, Snack, Vegetarian Cuisine American, Healthy, Vegetarian Keyword homemade granola bars Prep Time 20 minutes minutes Cook Time 8 minutes minutes Total Time 28 minutes minutes Servings 12 bars Chelsea Lords Calories 212kcal Author Chelsea Lords Ingredients▢ 2 and 1/2 cups (238g) old-fashioned oats (do not use quick or steel oats)▢ 1/4 cup (34g) whole cashews, coarsely chopped▢ 1/4 cup (34g) whole almonds, coarsely chopped▢ 1/3 cup (111g) honey▢ 4 tablespoons unsalted butter▢ 1/3 cup (67g) light brown sugar, lightly packed▢ scant 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt (See Note 1)▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract▢ 1/2 cup (28g) toasted coconut flakes, optional▢ 1/2 cup (82g) miniature chocolate chips, divided InstructionsPREP: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper or a silpat liner. Line a separate 8x8-inch pan (thicker bars) or 9x9 inch pan (thinner bars) with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal. TOAST OATS AND NUTS: Add the oats to the sheet pan. Coarsely chop the cashews and almonds and add to the pan. Bake for 2-3 minutes, stir around, and bake for another 2-3 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant. Remove and allow to slightly cool.SYRUP MIXTURE: Meanwhile, cut the butter into small cubes. Add the honey, butter, brown sugar, and salt to a medium-sized saucepan and place over medium heat. Stir constantly until the mixture is completely smooth and sugar is fully dissolved. Remove immediately from the heat (do not simmer or boil).BARS: In a large bowl, combine the toasted oat and nut mixture with the coconut flakes. Pour the syrup mixture over the bars and add in the vanilla extract. Stir well, until all the oats and nuts are coated in the syrup mixture. Let cool for a few minutes and then add in 1/4 cup of the chocolate chips. They will get a little melty, and that's intentional to hold the bars together well.CHILL: Transfer the mixture into the prepared pan and use a silicone spatula to compress the bars. Take your time and press them very firmly (this is important to avoid crumbling later on). Once the mixture is evenly pressed down, add the remaining 1/4 cup chocolate chips and press those gently to adhere to the top of the bars. Cover the pan and place in the fridge for at least 1 hour and up to 3 before cutting into bars.CUT BARS: Using the parchment paper overhang, pull the bars out of the pan and use a sharp knife to cut into 12 evenly sized bars.STORAGE: Store the bars in an airtight container. Refrigerate for firmer bars and leave at room temperature for softer bars (we love these bars straight out of the fridge!). Granola bars are best enjoyed within 7 days. Freeze leftover bars for up to 3 months. Recipe NotesNote 1: Salt levels: If you use salted nuts in this recipe, you may want to decrease the amount of added salt. Nutrition FactsServing: 12bars | Calories: 212kcal | Carbohydrates: 31.6g | Protein: 3.5g | Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 10.2mg | Sodium: 2.6mg | Fiber: 2.7g | Sugar: 19.1g We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed. DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? I love hearing from you when you've made one of my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @ChelseasMessyApron or leave me a comment below.
I am almost in tears wishing I could eat the ingredients in these bars because they look out of this WORLD!!! Reply
I LOVE the flavor and consistency of these bars! They are SO yummy and you wouldn’t think they are healthier 🙂 Is it normal for bars to come out sticky after being in fridge? They taste amazing, but are pretty sticky and messy when eaten. Thanks Chelsea! Reply
Yay!! What a great thing to hear; I’m so happy these were a hit and thank you for the comment Ashley! Reply
Made these tonight and they were AWESOME! I had walnuts, peanuts & pistachios on-hand, so used a little of all of them. Also added in some dried cranberries. My hubby loved them! Recipe #2 from this site and trust me, I’ll definitely be making more!!! Reply
So happy you enjoyed these granola bars! Thanks for the comment Carissa; hope you love whatever you try next 🙂 Reply
