Looking for a quick and easy snack that is both healthy and delicious? Try these healthy Homemade Granola Bars. Made with only dried fruits, chocolate, peanut butter, and oats, these no-bake granola bars are the perfect snack to brighten up any meal plan in just 30 minutes or less!
Even though there are so many options in the stores these days, it’s always best to make your own granola bars. Thankfully it’s fun and easy!
One of the best things about making homemade granola bars is that you can customize them to your own taste, kind of like nut free granola but in bar form. You can use any combination of dried fruits, nuts, and chocolate that you like, which means that you can create a bar that is perfect for your own individual palate.
And, by making granola bars at home, you know exactly what ingredients are going into them, which means that you can avoid any potentially unhealthy additives or preservatives which make them healthy for you and your family.
Another great thing about homemade granola bars is that they make a great on-the-go snack. They are perfect for packing in your lunchbox or taking with you on a hike or outdoor adventure!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Old Fashioned Rolled Oats – The base for these granola bars and adds nice texture.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips – Adds sweetness and chocolate flavor. You can also use chopped-up dark chocolate instead.
- Dried Fruit – A mix of dried apricots and dried cranberries give these bars a hint of tartness and sweetness.
- Chia Seeds – Adds a crunchy texture to these granola bars.
- Ground Cinnamon – A little bit of cinnamon goes a long way in adding warming flavor to these granola bars.
- Creamy Peanut Butter – Helps all of the ingredients stick together while adding a rich peanut butter flavor.
- Honey or Malt Syrup – Gives the granola bars additional sweetness while helping everything stick together properly.
- Coconut Oil – Adds a touch of healthy saturated fat as well as flavor.
- Vanilla Extract – Infuses the granola bars with a hint of light vanilla flavor.
- Salt – Helps balance and enhance the natural flavors of each ingredient.
How To Make Homemade Granola Bars
- Combine the mix-ins: In a large bowl, add the oats, chocolate chips, dried fruit, cranberries, and cinnamon. Stir to combine and reserve some chocolate and fruit for the top.
- Mix the wet ingredients: Add the peanut butter to a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 15-20 second intervals until smooth. Then, add the honey, coconut oil, and vanilla. Stir to combine.
- Combine the granola bar mixture: Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix with a rubber spatula until everything is fully combined.
- Assemble the granola bars: Press the mixture into a parchment-lined baking pan until evenly distributed. Press the remaining chocolate and dried fruit on top. Let the homemade granola bars chill in the freezer for 20 minutes before slicing and serving.
Recipe Tips
- Malt syrup will make the homemade granola bars stick together a bit better, but it has a molasses sort of taste that some find overpowering. Honey works well too but might make the bars a bit stickier.
- If your granola bar mixture is seeming a little too wet, add in another tablespoon or two of oats until it reaches the desired consistency.
- It’s important to make sure the bars chill in the freezer for at least 20 minutes before slicing and serving them or they will be too soft.
- Do not use instant oats as they will not hold together well in this recipe.
Variations
- If you don’t have any chia seeds on hand, try replacing them with ground flaxseed or poppy seeds.
- Feel free to use any type of dried fruit you like or have on hand including raisins, chopped dates, or dried cherries.
- For a nut-free granola bar, replace the peanut butter with sunflower seed butter or tahini.
- You can also add chopped nuts, seeds, or other types of chocolate chips to the granola bars.
- If you’re not a fan of peanut butter, try using almond butter, cashew butter, or pecan butter instead.
Storing and Freezing
Storing: Store the granola bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.
Freezing: To freeze, slice the granola bars into individual servings and place them in a Ziploc bag or airtight container. They will keep in the freezer for up to two months.
Homemade Granola Bars
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Suggested Equipment
Ingredients
Granola Bar Mixture
- 1 ¾ cup(s) old-fashioned rolled oats
- ¾ cup(s) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup(s) apricots, chopped, dried
- ⅓ cup(s) cranberries, dried
- ¼ cup(s) chia seeds
- ¼ teaspoon(s) ground cinnamon
- ⅓ cup(s) peanut butter, creamy
- ⅓ cup(s) honey
- ¼ cup(s) coconut oil, melted but not hot
- 1 teaspoon(s) pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon(s) kosher salt
Toppings
- ¼ cup(s) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup(s) apricots, chopped, dried
- 2 tablespoon(s) cranberries, dried
Instructions
For the Granola Bar Mixture
- Add the oats, chocolate chips, apricots, cranberries, chia seeds and cinnamon to a large bowl. Stir to combine.1 ¾ cup(s) old-fashioned rolled oats¾ cup(s) semi-sweet chocolate chips½ cup(s) apricots⅓ cup(s) cranberries¼ cup(s) chia seeds¼ teaspoon(s) ground cinnamon
- Add the peanut butter to a separate medium size bowl. Microwave on medium heat, stirring every 15-20 seconds or until just smooth enough to stir easily.⅓ cup(s) peanut butter
- Add the honey, coconut oil, vanilla and salt to the peanut butter, and stir to combine.⅓ cup(s) honey¼ cup(s) coconut oil1 teaspoon(s) pure vanilla extract½ teaspoon(s) kosher salt
- Pour the peanut butter mixture over the oat mixture then stir until well mixed.
- Prepare an 8×8 inch baking pan by lining with parchment paper or aluminum foil then press the oat mixture into the baking pan.
For the Toppings
- Press the remaining chocolate chips, apricots and cranberries onto the bars and freeze for 20 minutes before slicing and serving.¼ cup(s) semi-sweet chocolate chips¼ cup(s) apricots2 tablespoon(s) cranberries
- See post for storage options.