Homemade Chewy Granola Bars are a cinch to make from pantry staples. Gluten free and kid friendly, they're a great, low-sugar snack option!
If you have kids, and they’re anything like mine, then you know that they are ALWAYS HUNGRY.
That said, I feel like a total rockstar when can pull out ready made Homemade Chewy Granola Bars as a healthy, chewy, naturally sweet, and satisfying snack when they ask for one.
Even if you don’t have kids, these low sugar, nutrient dense, homemade granola bars totally hit the spot!
Homemade Chewy Granola Bars
Far from the sugary, store-bought granola bars that leave you satisfied for maybe 5 minutes, Homemade Chewy Granola Bars are gluten free, packed with healthy fats and protein, and naturally sweetened with a wee bit of honey. There’s even a secret ingredient that takes the flavor of these homemade granola bars up 500 notches.
That said, all the secret ingredients are pantry staples so we can whip these granola bars up anytime. Along with Maple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bars, Maple Pumpkin Oatmeal Bars, Almond Flour Blueberry Muffins, and Cranberry Chocolate Almond Energy Bites, they’re great to have on hand for easy and healthy snacking.
Recipe Notes
- This recipe calls for coconut oil and I do not recommend substituting in any other type of oil. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature, and even harder when chilled, (these granola bars live in the fridge or freezer) and help keep the bars together.
- Along the same lines, I have not tested this recipe with any other sweetener besides honey. Its thick and sticky texture keeps the bars together.
- I use almonds and pecans in my chewy granola bars though you could use whatever nut or seed you have on hand.
Let’s do this!
How to Make This Recipe
Start by adding almonds, pecan halves, and gluten free old fashioned oats to the bowl of a food processor, then process until all the ingredients are finely chopped.
Pour the mixture into a large bowl then add more oats, almonds, and pecans, plus dried cranberries or dried cherries, chia seeds and cinnamon.
Over on the stovetop, add honey, coconut oil, and salt to a small saucepan then bring to a foamy bubble over medium heat. Let the mixture foam and cook for 1 minute then remove it from the heat and stir in almond and vanilla extracts.
The almond extract is the secret ingredient in this recipe, by the way. I’m telling you – the subtle, special flavor it adds is so cozy.
Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients then mix well to combine. Scoop the mixture into a foil-lined, nonstick-sprayed 8×8 baking pan then spray the bottom of a glass measuring cup with more nonstick spray and press press press!
The harder you press the better these bars will stick together.
Refrigerate the bars until they’re completely set – a few hours – then lift out of the baking pan using the foil and slice into bars.
These bars will soften at room temperature so keep them in the fridge, or wrap in parchment paper or saran wrap and freeze individually. However you eat them them, I hope you love these homemade chewy granola bars — enjoy!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup almonds
- 1 cup pecan halves
- 1 cup certified gluten free old fashioned oats
- 1 cup dried cranberries or cherries
- 2 Tablespoons chia seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons honey
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, no substitutions
- 1/2 teaspoon scant salt
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
- Line a 8x8” baking dish with foil, letting it hang generously over the sides, then spray with nonstick spray and set aside.
- Add 1/2 cup each almonds and pecans, plus 3/4 cup old fashioned oats into the bowl of a food processor then process until finely chopped. Pour mixture into a large bowl then add remaining 1/4 cup oats, dried cranberries, chia seeds, and cinnamon. Chop remaining 1/2 cup pecans and 1/2 cup almonds then add to the bowl and stir everything together. Set aside.
- Add honey, coconut oil, and salt to a small saucepan then bring to a bubble over medium heat, stirring once or twice. Turn heat down slightly, simmer for 1 minute, then remove saucepan from heat and stir in extracts. Pour over the dry ingredients then stir well to combine, and then pour mixture into prepared baking dish.
- Spray the bottom of a measuring cup or bowl with nonstick spray then press firmly into an even layer. The harder you press, the better the bars will stick together! Refrigerate until set, a couple hours, then pull out of the baking dish using overhanging foil and slice into bars using a sharp knife.
Notes
- Store bars in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
I’m lovin’ on the Quaker Whole Hearts…SOOOO tasty!
Ok, this is probably a bad question, but how coconutty does coconut oil taste? My family does not like coconut flavor so I want to know if it would be a waste of money for me. Thanks.
It definitely does not taste like coconut! It’s very neutral tasting.
Thanks!
Once you go to homemade ones, it’s hard to go back. They never taste the same again!
Will it go back if I don’t put it in fridge or freezer?
I was hoping to ship it to a friend…
I’d imagine it would be ok as there’s nothing in the ingredient list that would spoil. Coconut oil melts at 76 degrees, so even if the bars “melted” a little bit while shipping, they should firm back up in the fridge!
Thank you for answering my question!
Your blog is beautiful! It’s inspiring me :)
Would it become too hard to bite if I put it in the fridge?
I did that before with another recipe and that’s what happened… :)
thanks!
Nope, they stay perfectly soft and chewy! :)
I will have to try these but I would probably use dried cranberries. I just cannot become a cherry fan so matter how much I try.
I made your shepard’s pie tonight and it was delicious! I cannot believe how well the cauliflower blended with the potatoes that I couldn’t even taste it. I can’t wait to eat the leftovers at lunch tomorrow!
I had the same – can’t stop eating these- reaction today When I made “healthy banana oat bars” from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe. They are loaded with healthy, yummy ingredients. I actually left the house so I wouldn’t eat the whole pan! I make a variety of granola type bars for my kids and now I’m anxious to try your recipe too!
It must be a coconut oil granola bar type of day in Iowa! I just made some of my own this afternoon after running to Costco and getting some bulk almonds. My husband & I use coconut oil for EVERYTHING (cooking, baking, lotion, you name it!)
So does the coconut oil “taste” like coconut? Can an unflavored oil be used in its place (if it does taste like coconut)?
I should have mentioned that, sorry! No, coconut oil does not taste like coconut. It’s got a neutral/slightly buttery taste!
Above you said coconut “butter”, but you did use coconut “oil”, right? Coconut butter definitely tastes like coconut.
Yep, coconut oil!
buy coconut oil from vitacost.com……WAY cheaper than hyvee!
These look awesome. Any chance you could give an estimated calorie count? I’d think I died and went to heaven if you started including that on your recipes. You’re already famous in my house :D
These look perfect! Cant wait to make them!
My favorite bars are my cereal bars – which I do in a muffin tin because I am too lazy to cut them up – see http://www.snack-girl.com/snack/cereal-bar-recipe/
How might you up the protein count?