This homemade Granola Bar recipe is sure to take your snacking to the next level. With a wholesome mix of oats, nuts, dried fruit, seeds, and honey, these bars offer a chewy yet slightly crunchy texture that is absolutely irresistible. Whether you're packing them for a family picnic or enjoying as a mid-day snack, these granola bars are sure to become a household favorite!
Homemade Granola Bars pack the punch of your favorite store-bought bars but with the added bonus of being customizable.
And the best part? You can whip them up in just about 30 minutes! Perfect for those busy mornings, after-school snacks, or when you're simply craving something wholesome and delicious.
Trust me, your snack game is about to get a serious upgrade!
Ingredients
- Old-fashioned Rolled Oats: The backbone of our granola bars, providing that irresistible chew and substance. If you're looking to mix things up, quick oats can work in a pinch, but they'll give a softer texture.
- Cashews: These add a lovely crunch and a touch of luxury to each bite. Feel free to substitute with any other nuts you love or have on hand – almonds, pecans, or walnuts would all work.
- Dried Cherries: They bring a sweet, tart pop that contrasts beautifully with the nuts and oats. Not a cherry fan? Dried cranberries, raisins, or chopped apricots are equally delicious and easy swaps.
- Sunflower Seeds: These little guys add a nice texture and a slight nuttiness. Pumpkin seeds or sesame seeds could also work well if you're looking to experiment.
- Brown Rice Cereal: This gives the bars an unexpected crispy element that’s just so satisfying. If brown rice cereal isn’t your thing or hard to find, try puffed quinoa or even a bit of crushed rice cakes.
- Sea Salt: Just a pinch to enhance all the flavors. If you’re leaning towards a saltier snack, feel free to up the ante as suggested. And if you're using salted nuts or nut butter, you might want to dial it back a bit.
- Honey or Brown Rice Syrup: The sticky sweet binder that holds all these wonderful ingredients together. Honey brings its unique flavor, but for a vegan option or a different taste, brown rice syrup works wonders.
- Almond Butter: This adds richness and helps to bind everything. It’s subtly sweet and nutty, but if you’re an adventurer at heart, peanut butter, cashew butter, or even sunflower seed butter can be fantastic alternatives.
- Vanilla Extract: A dash of vanilla enhances the sweet flavors and brings a warm depth to the bars. Pure extract is best for that authentic vanilla taste, but in a pinch, imitation vanilla can do the job.
Tips and Tricks
- Line That Pan: Trust me, nothing is sadder than granola bars that refuse to leave the pan. A parchment paper sling not only prevents sticking but also makes lifting your bars out a breeze. Plus, cleanup is a snap!
- Press Down Firmly: When you spread your mixture into the pan, press it down firmly. I'm talking "put some muscle into it" firmly. This helps ensure your bars stick together instead of crumbling apart when you try to cut them.
- Let Them Chill: Patience, my friends. Let your bars cool completely in the pan before attempting to cut them. Better yet, pop them in the fridge for a bit. They'll firm up nicely, making cutting smoother and reducing crumbles.
- Customize with Love: The beauty of homemade granola bars is making them your own. Want to throw in some mini chocolate chips or swap the dried cherries for your kid's favorite dried fruit? Go for it! Making this recipe your own is half the fun.
- Sticky Sweeteners Work Best: Whether you're team honey or brown rice syrup, using a sticky sweetener is key to binding everything together. They act like delicious glue, ensuring your bars hold their shape and aren't too dry.
- Storage Savvy: Once cut, store your bars in an airtight container with parchment paper between layers to keep them from sticking together. They'll last about a week at room temperature (if they don't get gobbled up first) or longer in the fridge.
- Freezer-Friendly Snacking: For longer storage, wrap individual bars in plastic wrap and freeze them. They're a fantastic grab-and-go snack, thawing by lunchtime for a midday treat.
Step by Step
Preheat oven to 325 F. Line a 13 x 9-inch baking dish with parchment paper for easy removal and cleanup.
Transfer the granola mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly. Press the mixture firmly into the pan to ensure the bars hold together after baking. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the edges begin to turn golden brown.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes; this helps the bars set and makes them easier to cut. Cut into bars while still slightly warm and then allow to cool completely for another hour. Lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper as handles.
Re-cut along the initial cuts if necessary. Store the cooled bars in an airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking, for up to a week.
More Bar Recipes to Try
- Quinoa Protein Power Bars: When you need that extra oomph in your day, my Quinoa Protein Power Bars come to the rescue, packed with flavors and energy to power through.
- Chia Seed Protein Bars: Dive into the crunchy goodness of Chia Seed Protein Bars, where every bite is a delightful mix of texture and taste, perfect for those mid-morning hunger pangs.
- Quinoa Granola Bars: Transform your snack time with my Quinoa Granola Bars, a wholesome treat that combines the nuttiness of quinoa with the classic sweetness of homemade granola.
- Quinoa Energy Bars: For those days when you're running from one activity to the next, my Quinoa Energy Bars are your go-to snack, offering a delicious burst of energy to keep you going.
Homemade Granola Bar Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup chopped cashews
- ½ cup dried cherries
- ½ cup sunflower seeds
- 1 ½ cup brown rice cereal
- ½ teaspoon sea salt add an additional ½ teaspoon for salty bars
- 1 cup honey or brown rice syrup
- ¾ cup almond butter or nut butter of choice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325.
- Line a 13 x 9 baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine oats, cashews, cherries, sunflower seeds, brown rice cereal, and sea salt.
- In a medium saucepan, combine honey or brown rice syrup, almond butter, and vanilla extract.
- Heat until melted, stirring often.
- Pour the wet mixture over the dry mixture and stir well.
- Transfer to prepared baking dish.
- Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes.
- Cut into bars. Allow to cool for another hour and then remove from pan using the parchment paper.
- Re-cut and store in a sealed container for up to a week.
Laura G
This looks so yummy! Great snack to feed the kids before sports!
Gladys Parker
I'd love to try Blueberry Lemon Muddy Buddies my grandchildren would love them. These healthy granola bars you made look delicious and my grandchildren would eat them up!
kumamonjeng
This would be good for an afternoon snack or bringing out for picnic for my family. I love how healthy ingredient were used and my favorite dried cherries were also added in.
Sabrina Fox
I eat granola like it's my life! This is a super simple recipe that I haven't ever tried before. I saved it. 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
What Corinne Did
I love Granola! And even better in a bar! I had never tried to make it myself but i would love to try this recipe!
Tiffany La Forge-Grau
These look so yummy! We are going on a long drive this weekend and I think these would make the perfect snack! We are always trying to find things more filling and satisfying than super sweet things you find at road stops etc, so this is so perfect! Thanks for sharing!
Heather
I love homemade granola bars. I'm actually planning on making some today.
Yeah Lifestyle
I love granola bars but never had the chance to make them so might give this a try this weekend. Thanks for the share.
Tara
I need a protein rich snack for work, I usually buy "nutbars" But the store bought ones have so much sugar and added ingredients. I love the idea of making my own. I'll try to share some with my teenagers too.
stephanie
I love making these homemade and I have not done it in way too long I am definitely saving this to try later!
Erin S
These look so easy and delicious to make! My son would
love these
Danielle
These look so delicious! Definitely going to try making them!!
Samantha
I love making granola, I'll have to give it a go as a bar, that would be handy for the kids to take in the car to go when we are in a rush in the morning. The Mocha Coconut Morning Smoothie would be perfect to go with this granola bar receipt in the morning.
Carrie Liu
This looks really great! Healthy and delicious at the same time! Definitely going to try this recipe sometime.
Wendy Polisi
I hope you enjoy! Let me know how it goes.
Aduke Schulist
I love granola bars. I have only tried to make them homemade once and it failed. I'll try your recipe.
Wendy Polisi
I hope you enjoy!
Kenia
I liked the Pinwheel Mini Sandwiches recipe.
Gretchen Christman
I definitely need to try your homemade granola bar recipe. They sound so yummy.
Wendy Polisi
Let me know how it goes if you decide to give them a try!
Kay Z
I think the Incredible Butterscotch Potato Chip Cookies sound delicious and different!
Wendy Polisi
Oh...yes! That does sound deliciously different Kay.