Homemade Crunchy Baked Granola Bars are the ultimate in healthy snack recipes. Packed with wholesome oats, nuts, and seeds, these bars are perfect for satisfying your midday cravings or for a quick on-the-go breakfast. Easy to make and customizable to your taste, this recipe for baked granola bars will have you ditching store-bought bars for good.
This post was updated from the original posted on September 14, 2015.
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Yes…you NEED these Crunchy Baked Granola Bars in your life. I know how hard it is to compete with quick and easy (drive-thru anyone?) when you’re looking for healthy and affordable. BUT, the struggle is optional. I’ve got an easy, delicious kid tested and mother approved recipe for you!
Oats and honey granola bars don’t just come in packages….you can make them yourself with this simple recipe. They’re perfect for meal prep, freezer friendly and the healthy answer to your hectic, hungry mornings.
Let’s be real, life is EASIER when you have a “grab and go” option at your fingertips for breakfast, post or pre workout, lunch boxes or after school snacks. But who said you can’t have a healthy granola bar…that’s also quick and easy and ready as a grab and go option?
Why you’ll love them
- Kid tested and mother approved.
- Meal prep and freezer friendly.
- Crunchy and satisfying.
- Grab and go…with a healthier breakfast bar that won’t fall apart.
- Super easy to make and customizable.
- Delish…so much better than the cardboard taste of store bought bars.
- CRUNCHY…crisp and tasty. The texture is JUST RIGHT. Check this no bake recipe out if you prefer a soft and chewy granola bar.
- Budget friendly: much more affordable than store bought bars (tastier too).
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Rolled oats: A whole grain with soluble fiber. They help with blood sugar control and also with helping you to feel full and satisfied. I use sprouted oats for an easy to digest source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. I like to use Thrive Market Organic Oats or One Degree Organic Sprouted Oats. Whatever brand you use, be sure they are non-GMO and glyphosate free. This recipe would be better for you If you’d prefer a grain-free energy bar.
- Seeds: Seeds are extremely nutritious, a good source of fiber, vitamins and healthy fats. I used pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds. Whatever you like/have is great. Chia seeds, hemp seeds, sesame seeds would also be good additions to this recipe.
- Nuts: Yay for some tasty plant based protein, fiber and fats…no need to add any oil to this recipe! I chose walnuts to get the omega 3s as well. Pecans, almonds, filberts, hazelnuts would all work too. For nut allergies, load up on more seeds…use some larger and some smaller varieties.
- Honey: I like the taste and texture of honey plus the beneficial antioxidants, antibacterial and antifungal properties. For a true vegan granola bar, substitute the honey for date syrup or maple syrup.
- Ground flax: In addition to the fiber and omega 3s, ground flax acts as a binder to hold these healthy snack bars together.
- Nut butter: Make sure it’s creamy and drippy….otherwise use what you like. Peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter…or use sunbutter if you have nut allergies.
- Chocolate chips: I used dark chocolate chips from Thrive market. You could also chop a bar of high quality dark chocolate.
How to make them
Spread oats, nuts and seeds in a single layer on a large rimmed baking tray.
Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.
Let toasted oats/nuts cool and then pour into a bowl.
Add the dried fruit, ground flax, cinnamon, salt and chocolate chips to the bowl.
Mix. If the oats/seeds aren’t cool, the chocolate chips will melt when mixed in, rather than stay as chips.
In a small bowl, stir the honey into the nut butter until thoroughly mixed. Substitute maple syrup for the honey for a true vegan granola bar.
Pour nut butter mixture onto the oat mixture.
Mix well. It may feel like there isn’t enough sticky nut butter to go around, but stick with it (see what I did there?), it is the perfect amount. Use a heavy wooden spoon or metal spatula…the batter will be thick and sticky.
Spread the batter evenly into a 9×13 baking pan. that’s lined with parchment.
Use another sheet of parchment to cover the batter and then press down FIRMLY. The more you can compact the bars into the pan, the more they will hold together. I use an empty measuring cup to push down and get a uniform flatness.
Turn the oven temperature down to 325 and bake for 25 minutes, until golden. Let the bars cool a bit in the pan so the chocolate chips aren’t so melty. Place the parchment back onto the top of the bars and push down again. Let cool in the pan.
Remove by holding onto the edges of the parchment paper and placing onto a cutting board.
Start by cutting vertically into long strips and then cut across horizontally to whatever size you prefer.
Debra’s Pro Tips
- Let the toasted oats cool before adding the chocolate chips or they will melt and you will have chocolate granola bars….not a bad thing…but just know that’s what will happen. You can always add more chocolate chips.
- If you don’t press down the batter and compact it before baking, they will fall apart. See the photo above? I couldn’t cut them into bars without them crumbling. The silver lining? Hubby thought it was the BEST GRANOLA ever. Yes….if yours fall apart, scoop the crumbs into a jar and use as granola…no shame, no waste!
- Experiment with different nuts, seeds or dried fruit. I love the dried figs in there…super sweet and added great texture, but I had to cut them into small pieces before using.
- Store in the freezer, wrapped and ready to grab and go.
- These are the PERFECT snack if you pick up from school and head straight to afternoon sports.
- Wrapped in unbleached parchment and tied with a bow, these make awesome holiday gifts.
- Use DRIPPY nut or seed butter. Store unopened nut butter upside down in your pantry. When you open for the first time, take the time to THOROUGHLY mix before using.
MEAL PREP AND STORAGE
- Serve: Granola bars taste best at room temperature. They can be taken straight from the freezer to the lunch box and will be perfect when it’s time to enjoy.
- Prep ahead: Yes! Individually wrap and store at room temperature for a week, in the fridge for a month or freezer for 3 months for an easy grab and go breakfast or healthy snack.
- Store: For best results, store in an airtight container at room temperature for a week.
- Freeze: Completely cool granola bars. Freeze for up to 3 months in freezer safe zip top bags.
Oats and honey granola bars for the healthy snack or breakfast win. Change things up and use different nuts, seeds or dried fruit. For a truly vegan granola bar, substitute maple syrup for the honey. It will be a bit less sticky and still taste delicious.
More healthy grab and go recipes
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📖 Recipe
Crunchy Granola Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup assorted nuts*
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
- ½ cup unsweetened dried fruit*
- ½ cup ground flax seeds
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup peanut butter*
- ½ cup honey*
- ½ cup dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325.
- Place oats nuts and seeds on baking sheet and toast for 10 minutes.
- Prepare 9×13 glass dish by lining with unbleached parchment paper.
- Mix peanut butter and honey until well incorporated and set aside.
- When toasted nuts and oats have cooled enough to handle, pour into a medium sized mixing bowl. IF OATS AND NUTS HAVEN’T COOLED, THE CHOCOLATE CHIPS WILL MELT WHEN YOU MIX THEM IN. Add in dried fruit, chocolate chips, ground flax, cinnamon and salt in large bowl and mix together.
- Pour nut butter mixture over oats/nuts and stir until well incorporated. Batter will be VERY sticky. You may think there isn’t enough of the nut butter paste, but keep mixing and you’ll see it is exactly the right amount.
- Spread batter into prepared pan. Use another piece of parchment paper to cover the mixture and then use your hands to press down until it’s evenly distributed all the way to the edges. Use the bottom of a bowl or measuring cup to firmly press down. This is super important. You want the mixture to be as compacted as possible before baking so it won’t fall apart when you try to cut it.
- Bake for 25 minutes, until golden.
- Allow to cool COMPLETELY in the pan. Lift parchment edges to transfer to a cutting board.
- Cut into bars and store in covered container at room temperature for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Notes
Nutrition
Note
The nutrition calculations were done using online tools. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in any given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients you used. You are ultimately responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information is accurate, complete and useful.
susan H
These granola bars really are “simply the best.” I’ve made them several times… in double and triple batches… and they’re always a hit. I usually package them individually in unbleached parchment (as shown by Deb) and tie them with raffia or twine and give them as little gifts. I’ve found that the bars hold there shape better when cutting if you press the “batter” down hard with either a rubber spatula or parchment placed over the batter before baking.
Lisa M. Green
I am making a new batch now! I freeze them and then I have them as a quick snack between work and working out! Anyone who has tried them are so amazed by how good they are. Thx
Debra Klein
Nice tip to help with cutting. I’m due to make a batch of these, will try it. Thanks and glad you are enjoying them.
anna
So quick and easy to make, and they are perfect pre or post workout snacks!
Audrey
My kids loved these!
Debra Klein
Awesome….my 20 somethings adore them still.
Rob
Easy and delicious recipe for a healthy treat!
Colleen
These look amazing and so simple. Can’t wait to make them!
Debra Klein
Exactly! You’ll love everything about them.
Jerika
This is one of my favorite snacks already.:) Thanks for this recipe.:) Yum!
Debra Klein
Yay….glad you like them.
Cher Dennis
This is really delicious! My wife is asking for more.
Emily Flint
I love that I can make these for my son for school!
Toni
Loved this snack! Everyone at my house loved it!!
Toni
Loved this snack! Everyone at my house loved it!!
Debra Klein
Winner, winner….yay!
Jen
We love this delicious snack! My kids couldn’t stop eating this!
Debra Klein
The best when that happens and it’s a healthy option.
Anaiah
I’ve always wanted to make my own granola bars! It’s so easy with this recipe to add in all my favorites. Love how nutritious it is!
Debra Klein
Exactly….super easy!
Karen
This is hands down my favorite new healthy snack recipe ever! I don’t know why I never tried making my own granola bars before but I am so glad I stumbled across this recipe and tried this because it was a hit in my house. Thanks!
Debra Klein
Awesome. So glad everyone enjoyed them Karen.
Jere Cassidy
These bars are amazing and there is no need to buy the store-bought bars, I do love that there are variations so everytimene I make these I can change them up.
Debra Klein
Totally….store bought never as good either.
Jeannie
delicious and way better than store bought granola bars
Brittany F.
These are perfect for my supper busy household. Plus, these granola bars are delicious and healthy!
Debra Klein
Well said…exactly why I make them all the time.
Agnieszka
I made a batch of these granola bars and they turned out perfectly! Never buying granola bars at the store again! I put them in my kids’ lunch boxes this morning.
Debra Klein
Yay…those kids will love to find those in their boxes later!
Courtney
Homemade granola bars are my favorite!
Debra Klein
Mine too!
Susan cairns
Just made the bars and my husband and I just love them (meaning we had more than two) haha. Thanks for the recipe.
Susan
Debra Klein
Yay…that’s a win for sure!
Sue
I love granola bars but the grocery store types seem less than healthy – I’m so glad I found this recipe!
Maren
These are delicious
Raquel
These were fun and easy to make. Perfect for snacks on the go.
Kayla DiMaggio
Yum! Such a fun snack!
Toni
My kids enjoyed these bars! Thanks for the recipe!
Jen
Quickly became my kids’ favorite snack!
Jen
Quickly became my kids’ favorite snack!
Debra Klein
Yay! Love to hear this. Thank you.
Bri
So good!
Sneha
Hi, trying this recipe now and I wondered if i can use dates as one of the dried fruit options?
Debra Klein
Yes, definitely. Cut them into small pieces before mixing in. About the size of a raisin.
Chef Marc
Excellent recipe. You can add just about anything healthy to it! My trick is to put them in the freezer for about 30 minutes and then the oven. I’ve found this keeps them solid while baking and far easier to cut afterwards.
Debra Klein
Great tip! I’ll try it next time.
Sneha
Hi, I’ve been making these bars for a out two years now…testament to what a hit recipe you’ve created, so firstly..a big thank you! Life saver when it comes to healthy, yet tasty snacking, or even a breakfast option!
Question I have for you today – I’ve been using the convection mode in my microwave oven to bake these and last week the convection mode stopped working 🙄 it will apparently take about a month to get the defective element replaced…too long a wait to make..and have these yummies! So I wanted to check if this recipe also works in yhe microwave, and what adjustments i should make?
Your response is much appreciated! Thank you!
Sneha
Debra Klein
That’s a great question, but I don’t have a microwave or any experience using one, so I don’t know. You could always make a smaller batch and test it out. I have, however, made these in a toaster oven following same directions and temperature and they came out great. Maybe that is an option for you too.
Marian
Hands down the best granola bar/healthy treat bar I have made. I think it’s down to the balance of ingredients and the toasting nuts, oats and seeds before cooking. A big bonus too is that they stay together, are crunchy and don’t make a huge mess. A couple really does sub for breakfast if you are in a hurry. I am addicted and the kids love them too (when they can get their hands on them!).
Debra Klein
Thanks so much….we love these crunchy granola bars for all those reasons too!