I know a lot of people believe in signs from passed loved ones, myself included. While some may think it’s woo woo, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that since we returned from my Grandma’s services, I’ve been feeling semi-stalked by cardinals.
I kid you not, every. single. time. I look out a window to the backyard, a cardinal lands in my direct view. Not off to the side, not high up in a tree – straight within my line of vision. It’s crazy! My Grandma loved birds, and I have a special, Grandma-related project in the works back there, so I like to think it’s her checking in and saying hello. Even if it’s not, the sightings are a great reminder of her wonderful spirit. :)
Hey, maybe the cardinals have just been trying to sneak a peek at my latest recipe that resembles bird food – Homemade Chewy Granola Bars! Ummm…get your snackatite (snack + appetite – I tried.) ready because these low sugar, nutrient dense, absolutely YUMMY granola bars are off the chain!
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. They are SO dang delicious and my kids (and I) gobble them up. There’s even a secret ingredient that takes the flavor of these homemade granola bars up 500 notches.
That said, the secret ingredient, along with all the other ingredients in this recipe, are kitchen staples so we can whip these granola bars up anytime. I’m thinking they’ll become regular weekly meal prep items for us, along with Maple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bars, Maple Pumpkin Oatmeal Bars, Almond Flour Blueberry Muffins, and Cranberry Chocolate Almond Energy Bites, to have on hand for easy and healthy snacking. With summer break just around the corner, lord knows we’ll need them!
Couple of 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 haven’t 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 most likely 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. I know I’ve said it 1,001 times, but the only oats I use are from GF Harvest.
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 craveable.
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!
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Homemade Chewy Granola Bars
Description
Homemade Chewy Granola Bars are a cinch to make from pantry staples. Gluten free and kid friendly, they're a great, low-sugar option for snack time.
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)
- scant 1/2 teaspoon 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. Store bars in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze for up to 3 months.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Lighter sesame chicken 10.31.2012
[…] extra step in toasting them first. I got a big jar of them at Trader Joe’s (originally for my chewy granola bars.) They aren’t expensive, and are nice to have on hand. Very […]
Take-Out Fake-Out: Lighter Sesame Chicken | Iowa Girl Eats 10.22.2012
[…] extra step in toasting them first. I got a big jar of them at Trader Joe’s (originally for my chewy granola bars.) They aren’t expensive, and are nice to have on hand. Very versatile!Well…enough on […]
Michelle 10.07.2012
Hello, I made these today. Great etc. but!!! I had a fiasco with stickin to the parchment paper. Any clues?
Iowa Girl Eats 10.08.2012
Oh no! I’ve never had parchment paper stick to anything – maybe just give it a spritz with nonstick spray next time? That’s so strange!
Mary 10.07.2012
These sound so good you have me drooling
Holly 10.01.2012
I didn’t even have all the ingredients and substituted cranberries and roasted pepitas for the cherries and pecans, butter for the coconut butter, and didn’t have almond extract—and they were un-be-freakin’-lievable! After the first bite, I nearly lost a finger wolfing the rest of it down.
Thanks, Iowa Girl, for making the world a better place.
Granola barer med tørrede kirsebær 09.25.2012
[…] originale opskrift, uden mine ændringer, findes her. Det eneste jeg egentlig har ændret er at putte en spiseskefuld mindre kokosolie i, da jeg synes, […]
Long Day WIAW | Life After Swimming 09.19.2012
[…] after dinner snack got a little adventurous. Homemade granola bars from a recipe I found online! I adapted it a little bit based on what I had in the […]
Teresa S 09.18.2012
I made these bars and they tasted delicious, but mine didn’t set up. I cooked the liquids for 15 seconds after it foamed. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Iowa Girl Eats 09.19.2012
Oh no, I’m sorry to hear it! My biggest pieces of advice are to make sure you don’t use a pan any bigger than an 8×8 or they’ll be too thin, and really, really press the heck out of them!
Between the (Granola) Bars « Mourning Doves 09.13.2012
[…] I’m trying. Really I am. And back to the granola bars. I found this recipe on a blog caled Iowa Girl Eats. I didn’t have everything on hand and I had a few other things I wanted to add to it. Like […]
On our plates « beautiful feet: the blog version 09.07.2012
[…] Homemade granola bars (although I pretty much substitute every nut and fruit in that recipe – I just use it for the quantities :)) and smoothies are our favorite snacks right now, but for the past few days, I have been majorly craving something sweet… and not just fruit… I need chocolate! Homemade Larabars to the rescue! (I don’t actually know what a Larabar is, but this version is absolutely delish!) granola bars… the larabars didn’t last long enough to be photographed :) […]
Cristen C. Clark 09.05.2012
Fabulous! These are just the consistency I had wanted in a homemade granola bar. My daughter approves and suggested we take these for her preschool snack tomorrow! Thanks!
DIY Frozen Breakfast Burritos | Iowa Girl Eats 08.28.2012
[…] earlier, you say? Pssht!) The result is that I usually snag a piece of fruit, yogurt, and/or a granola bar on my way out the door. This is fine, but sometimes I crave something hot in the morning. Something […]
stacy h 08.27.2012
testing these this evening… in the fridge now… sprinkled tiny enjoy life chips on top and pressed them in, cause mama needs chocolate!
Iowa Girl Eats 08.28.2012
Bahahaha! You are a genius – “enjoy life chips” – I love it. :)
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[…] Granola Nut Bars (adapted from Iowa Girl Eats) […]
Suzie Carter 08.21.2012
I have three grandchildren who are soldiers. One granddaughter is a logistics officer stationed state-side and the other is in the middle east working in a hospital in Qatar where her mother was once stationed. My grandson is currently studing for his medical flight credentials and hopes to go to med school in the near future. They are all so happy serving their country but will be even happier when they receive my goody bag that will include your granola bars. Thank you for the recipe. If you have some other suggestions, I am certainly receptive. My grandson asked for protein bars. Need to find a recipe for them. Again, thank you.
Lori 08.17.2012
Love the recipe, but I’m going to try it without the honey or a bit and I mean a bit of the “S” word….(sugar)
Sally 08.14.2012
I made these today. No more processed bars for us. So yummy!
Fran@fransfavs.com 08.13.2012
Made these fabulous granola bars this weekend and posted them today (http://www.fransfavs.com/2012/08/chewy-cherry-almond-granola-bars/#more-4153)! Love your site–thanks for the great recipe!
Edith 08.13.2012
Oh my god, I need them in my life!! Who knew making granola bars was that easy?? This will take my granola addiction to a whooooole new level :D
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[…] Homemade Chewy Granola Bars from Iowa Girl Eats […]
Nancy 08.28.2012
I made the almond cherry granola bars and they are great! I don’t like pecans so I left them out and added dryed cranberries. I keep them in the freezer because they don’t get hard and are nice and chewy. So easy and good for you. Can’t wait to try more recipes from you!