These homemade Granola Bars are perfectly chewy and delicious and so good you'll never buy store bought granola bars ever again! Making these at home gives you so much ability to customize the add-ins to your liking, like my cherry and dark chocolate granola bars, and the coconut granola that is an all-time fave!
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
We've been doing a TON of meal prep recently and homemade granola bars are on the weekly to-do list! Thomas and I are both mega snack fans and neither of us do well when our blood sugar gets low. That means it's VERY important that we have some healthy snacks on hand at all times in case things get bleak!
These chewy homemade Granola Bars are the perfect mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack. They are also great for a quick breakfast on the go, or to pack in school or work lunches! All the ingredients are super clean so you know these are going to taste great! And there's room for jazzing these up on your own... here's the deal!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Substitutions
- Honey - agave nectar will also work!
- Butter - coconut oil is a great substitute!
- Chia Seeds - you can omit the chia or swap it out for flax seeds or hemp hearts.
- Dried Fruit - any dried fruit will work in this Homemade granola bars recipe, just make sure you chop it into small pieces if it's something bigger than a dried cranberry.
Ingredients
- Old Fashion Oats - grab your favorite brand and toast the oats! This is the base of the entire recipe!
- Almonds - gotta get those healthy fats. You could also sub another one of your favorite nuts if you prefer. Walnuts, pecans, cashews... you name it.
- Honey - this helps everything stick together! Agave nectar will also work but I love making homemade granola bars with honey!
- Butter - I use an unsalted butter because I love the depth of flavor it provides. If you want something other than butter, coconut oil is a great substitute
- Brown Sugar - more flavorful that white sugar!!
- Vanilla - you could also use chocolate extract if you prefer. Or leave it out if you don't have any on hand.
- Chia Seeds - I love adding a little extra oomph into this recipe. If you want to omit the chia, that's no problem. Or they can also be swapped out for flax or hemp hearts.
- Salt - don't skimp on it! It elevates all the flavor.
- Dried Fruit - you can use any dried fruit in this recipe! Just make sure you chop it into small pieces if it's something bigger than a dried cranberry.
- Chocolate Chips - what is a granola bar without some chocolate?!?!
*For a full list of ingredients and instructions please see recipe card below
How to Make Homemade Granola Bars
Step 1: Start by preheating your oven to 350º F. Next lightly toast your oats and almonds in the oven on a small baking sheet for 10 minutes.
Step 2: While the oats are toasting, combine the butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla extract seeds, chia and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat.
Step 3: Cook until butter melts and the sugar completely dissolves, making sure to stir occasionally.
Step 4: Transfer the lightly toasted oats and almonds into a large mixing bowl and pour the butter mixture over.
Step 5: Add the cranberries and golden raisins and mix well. Let the mixture cool for 15 minutes and then stir in the mini chocolate chips.
Step 6: Line a 9-inch square pan with parchment paper and lightly spray the parchment with cooking spray to prevent the Homemade Granola Bars from sticking.
Step 7: Transfer the oat mixture to the 9-inch square pan. Using a rubber spatula or clean hands and firmly press the mixture into the pan until the mixture is in a uniform layer. Make sure to press it down tightly so you don't wind up with loose granola.
Step 8: Scatter a few extra tablespoons of mini chocolate chips over the granola bars and use the same rubber spatula to gently press them into the granola so they stick. Transfer the entire pan to the refrigerator and chill for at least 2 hours.
Step 9: After the granola has cooled completely, gently lift it out of the pan using the parchment paper as handles and cut it into squares or bars. Serve as needed.
How to Store Homemade Granola Bars
I store the granola bars in the fridge at all times (or the freezer if it's going to take you a while to get through them! Just take them out of the fridge for at least an hour before serving.
How to Freeze Homemade Granola Bars
You can freeze these bars for about 1-2 months. You can let them thaw to room temperature when its time to eat.
Tips and Tricks
Now that we've got the ingredients out of the way - let's talk about the process! These are pretty straight forward however there are some key tips to making these extra delish and reminiscint of those store bought bars we all grew up with!
Toast the Oats - this is super important to really get all the flavor from the oats! You want them to just get a little toasty in the oven before mixing in all the other ingredients
Really press the mixture down in the pan. Use a spatula or your clean hands and press the granola bar mixture down once you've transferred it into the pan. And feel free to put some weight behind it. That will help ensure the bars don't fall apart when you're slicing and serving.
Don't skimp on the chill time. You know how I always insist we chill blondies and brownies before slicing and serving... same thing goes for granola bars. This step (while tedious) just helps everything firm up and cutting will be cleaner and easier. Once they are chilled and sliced, you can let them come to room temperature before serving so they are chewier.
FAQ's
How do you get granola bars to stick together?
There are a two tips to getting granola bars to stick together. First really press the mixture down in the pan and second don't skimp on the chill time. This step (while tedious) just helps everything firm up and cutting will be cleaner and easier.
Do you need to bake granola bars?
No need to bake granola bars. After pressing them down firmly into a square pan, transfer the entire pan to the refrigerator and chill for at least 2 hours. Once they are chilled and sliced, you can let them come to room temperature before serving so they are chewier.
And if you want a step by step video to make life even easier... here you go!
Looking for more amazing breakfast ideas?
- 85+ Outstanding Breakfast Ideas to Start Your Morning Off Right
- Banana Blueberry Smoothies
- Zucchini Feta Frittatas
- Greek Yogurt Waffles
- Chocolate Chip Muffins
Similar Recipes
If you tried this recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting today
Homemade Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups old fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup whole almonds, roughly chopped
- ⅓ cup honey
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ¼ cup dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup dried golden raisins
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips, plus extra as needed
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line bottom of a 9-inch square pan with parchment paper. Then lightly spray the parchment with cooking spray.
- Combine the oats and roughly chopped almonds to a small baking sheet then bake 10 minutes until lightly toasted. Transfer to a large bowl.
- While the oats are toasting, combine the butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla extract seeds, chia and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until butter melts and the sugar completely dissolves, making sure to stir occasionally. Pour the butter mixture over the toasted oats and almonds and add the cranberries and golden raisins. Mix well. Let cool for 15 minutes then add the mini chocolate chips. Stir to combine.
- Transfer the oat mixture to prepared pan. Using a rubber spatula or clean hands and firmly press the mixture into the pan until the mixture is in a uniform layer. Really press it down so you don't wind up with loose granola. Scatter remaining a few extra tablespoons of mini chocolate chips over the granola bars and use the same rubber spatula to gently press them into the granola so they stick. Transfer the entire pan to the refrigerator and chill for at least 2 hours.
- After the granola has cooled completely, gently lift it out of the pan using the parchment paper as handles and cut it into squares or bars. Serve as needed.
Notes
- Make sure to pack these in the pan quite firmly so they stick together! If you're having trouble cutting them, warm your knife under hot water and wipe dry before slicing
- You know how I always insist we chill blondies and brownies before slicing and serving... same thing goes for granola bars. This step (while tedious) just helps everything firm up and cutting will be cleaner and easier. Once they are chilled and sliced, you can let them come to room temperature before serving so they are chewier.
Nutrition Information
Photo by Matt Armendariz / Food Styling by Adam Pearson / Recipe from What’s Gaby Cooking
So easy and good! I love that you can sub and add the ingredients you like. I gave a bar to my sister after we walked today and she was blown away and made me send her the recipe right away
Easy recipe and flavor to the max. Love the flexibility to use different seeds & nuts. My kids liked them right away. A winner for our family!
why am I not able to print receipes?
what internet browser are you using? The print button should be right below the image in the recipe card area
It has print but it won't print. I have Spectrum and google.
I couldn't print recipes, either... so I clicked open in new browser... and voila!
Made these for girls weekend for a snack after we took a great hike! They were a hit, Gaby. I will never buy store bought again, exactly as you said. Your recipes have been spot on! Thank you for bringing joy to my kitchen and recipes that raise the bar!
I made these today and they are going to be a regular in our house. I love that I can customize them however I want.
Any idea the calorie count of the granola bars?
I don't!
Great recipe! I have a lot of my staff at work who are on dietary restrictions, but this would work for all of them as a snack. I'm going to make a batch or two for them! Sound yummy!
If additional items such as pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and dried fruit, would the butter mixture need to be increased?
I wouldn't mess with the quantities of ingredients, I'd just substitute and swap things out. if you add too many mix-ins, things will not stick together
Will instant oats be fine? I always wonder if those mess things up when rolled oats are called for.
I haven't tested it that way so I can't say for sure!
I sure could have used these this morning!!
The perfect breakfast to go!
What are your favorite cooking sprays for various uses like baking granola bars and frittatas?
Pam is usually my go-to
Any idea what the sugar grams are per bar?
not a clue!
could I sub sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds for the almonds? my granddaughter has a severe nut allergy.
absolutely!
They came out great! I really like the golden raisins. I think I want to try coconut next time too. 🙂 I wanted to make my own because 1. Super fresh is always better 2. Less waste and trash in the landfill 3. I've been hiking a lot lately and this will be a good little snack on my 10 milers. Thanks Gaby!
I can't do brown sugar. Can I add more honey instead? or will it affect the texture?
haven't tested it that way so I can't say for certain!
I used equal quantity coconut sugar instead of brown sugar- it was great