Homemade Granola Bars Recipe (Soft, Chewy & Easy to Make)
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These easy Homemade Granola Bars are perfect as a morning or afternoon snack any time of year. These oats and honey bars are made with your own fresh ingredients and they are made with a
This is a great recipe for making healthy granola bars at home.
If you have ever wondered how to make homemade granola bars, trust me, they are easier than you think. These chewy granola bars are healthy oat bars that you can make at home
If you have been around a while you know that I make breakfast bars from time to time and these are one of my favorites yet. Chewy and delicious and easily changed up to your family’s liking.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Tasty. These tasty oat and honey bars are great for a quick breakfast or lunchbox snack. Like my granola with honey recipe, they are ready in minutes.
Easy Recipe. This is my favorite granola bar recipe. These are better than the bars you find at the grocery store and have fewer preservatives too.
Healthy. It’s a fun way to make your own healthy snacks. You can control the ingredients and won’t have any added preservatives.
Versatile. This makes a great base recipe. This baked granola bar recipe calls for chocolate chips and cranberries, but you can easily change it up to add orther dried fruits such as raisins, coconut flakes, or apricots.
These are SO EASY to make too! Delicious honey oat bars packed with flavor and goodness.
Oat Honey Bar Ingredients
Honey – This granola bar recipe is made with honey and I like to use pure honey.
Oatmeal– You will want to use old fashioned rolled oats for this, do not use quick oats. Through testing dozens of snack bars over the years, I’ve found that rolled oats create the best chewy texture, while quick oats tend to make bars softer and crumbly.
Brown Sugar – I used light brown sugar because that is what I had in my pantry, Dark brown sugar works well too.
Dried fruit –I used cranberries for this recipe for color and flavor, but you can use raisins instead (or in addition) if you like.
Chocolate Chips – I use semi-sweet chocolate chips, but you can use dark chocolate chips, white chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips if desired.
Granola Bar Variations, Notes, and Substitutions
You can add 1/3 cup of the following seeds (shell removed) to this easy snack recipe:
- sunflower seeds
- chia seeds
- pumpkin seeds
- flax seeds
- sesame seeds
- unsweetened coconut
You can also add 3/4 cups of Rice Krispies cereal to these to change them up.
You can add 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or toasted pecans while preparing.
Homemade granola bars with honey are very popular, but if you want to make this a granola bar recipe without honey, you can substitute maple syrup or molasses. It will change up the taste a little.
How to Make Homemade Honey Oat Granola Bars
The full recipe is below, but the steps are simple:
- Toast almonds and oatmeal in and even layer in a baking pan.
- Combine the butter and brown sugar.
- Add vanilla and salt and blend.
- Pour the butter mixture over the oatmeal mixture.
- Add cranberries and chocolate chips.
- Pour granola bar mixture in a prepared pan. Spread with a spatula. Chill.
- Cut chilled oat mixture into bars with a sharp knife.
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Prepare pan with waxed paper or parchment paper so it is easy to remove.
When oats and honey mixture has cooled, you can cut into bars or squares.
Pro Tips and Timesaver Shortcuts
- Store prepared bars in an airtight container to preserve freshness.
Make Ahead Tip – Make a granola bar jar mix
:Layer in a mason jar:
- oats
- nuts
- brown sugar
- cranberries or other dried fruit
- chocolate chips
When ready to make bars, simply add honey, butter and vanilla.
Serving and Storage Suggestions
- Serve at room temperature.
- Store in an airtight container.
- Serve as a healthy party snack or take along on a picnic.
Granola Bar Troubleshooting Checklist
If your bars fall apart:
- Press mixture firmly into pan
- Chill for at least 2 hours
- Add slightly more honey or binder
If bars are too sticky:
- Reduce sweetener slightly
- Bake bars 5 minutes longer
If bars are dry:
- Add extra nut butter or honey
Many homemade bars fall apart when the binder ratio is off or too much moisture is added.
FAQs
Why do homemade granola bars fall apart?
Granola bars usually fall apart when the binder ratio is too low or the mixture wasn’t pressed firmly enough into the pan.
What oats are best for granola bars?
Rolled oats are ideal because they provide a chewy texture and hold together better than quick oats.
Can I make granola bars without honey?
Yes. Maple syrup or brown rice syrup can be used instead.
Can you freeze granola bars?
Yes. Wrap individually and freeze up to 3 months.
Serving Idea
Serve with fresh fruit or in a lunch box.
More Semi Healthy Snack Recipes
Homemade Granola Bars
Homemade Granola Bars
Equipment
- Large Bowl
- Baking Sheet
- Rubber Spatula
- parchment paper or wax paper
- cutting board
- sharp knife
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups old fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup almonds chopped
- ⅓ cup honey
- ¼ cup brown sugar packed
- ¼ cup ½ stick butter
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup dried cranberries chopped
- ¼ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9 inch square baking dish with parchment paper, leaving a few inches hanging over the edge, spray lightly with cooking spray
Prepare Dry Ingredients
- Add oats and almonds to baking sheet, mix. Bake granola bars base for 8-10 minutes until toasted and lightly browned.
- Remove from oven and set in a large bowl to cool
Mix Wet Ingredients
- In a small saucepan, add honey, butter and brown sugar.
- Cook over medium heat until sugar is dissolved and butter is melted.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and salt.
- Pour mixture over oat mixture and stir until combined. Let cool 5-10 minutes.
- Stir in cranberries and chocolate chips until completely combined.
- Press into a square baking dish.
- Cover and chill in refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
- Remove from pan and cut into bars.
- Store in airtight container.
Notes
- You can keep the ingredients in a mason jar ready to go and prepare when you want to make granola bars.
- Store prepared bars in an airtight container to preserve freshness.
Nutrition
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I love granola, but packaged granola bars leave a lot to be desired. So homemade looks absolutely amazing!
Amazing!! Easy and healthy!!
I’ll like to make something like this!!
How long can they be kept?
Will be good if they can last long!!
Hi Holly! The bars will last about a week if stored in an airtight container in a cool area (not the refrigerator).
These look amazing and so delicious. I have pinned the recipe to try out the next time my husband plans a camping trip. Thanks so much for sharing and it is good to see you again at the #HomeMattersParty
Thank you so much for the pin Donna! ❤️
I love homemade granola bars because I can control the sweet level. Plus, I can add the ingredients I like. And this recipe has all my favorites!
So good to hear! Hope you love it!
These are delicious and great to have on hand for a tasty and healthy homemade snack!
What a great recipe! I never buy granola bars because they just never taste good. These are amazing!
I made these last weekend and they’ve been such a delicious snack to have on hand! It’s great that I know exactly what went in here and it’s way better than store bought!
I loved how easy these were to make…tasty too!
Dis you use sweetened or unsweetened cranberries?
I use sweetened cranberries.
I’m trying this recipe today….thinking of using coconut oil instead of butter. Have you tried this? I can’t wait. This is the recipe I’ve been looking for. Thanks!