Homemade Granola Bars are super-easy to make, with just 4 simple ingredients. They will quickly become one of your favorite healthy snacks!
Why You’ll Love Them
They taste amazing. Homemade granola bars taste better than the kind you’d buy from the store! The sweet and salty flavor is hard to resist.
They are easy to customize. You can add any mix-ins you love, such as sliced almonds, unsweetened coconut, dried fruits, or even some mini chocolate chips. If you don’t love peanut butter, feel free to use almond butter, or even sunflower seed butter for a nut-free option.
They are quick to prepare.All you need is 4 simple ingredients and about 10 minutes of time to prepare this easy snack. No oven required!
They are nourishing. The combination of whole grain oats and peanut butter will keep you feeling satisfied, with plenty of protein and fiber in each bite. When you add in extras like hemp hearts or dried fruit, like cranberries or raisins, you’ll get an even wider variety of nutrients, too.
They are gluten-free. Oats are naturally gluten-free, but be sure to buy oats that are certified gluten-free to help avoid any potential cross contamination that may occur during the manufacturing process.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the base recipe, you’ll need only oats, honey, salt, and your favorite nut butter. If you’re not a fan of peanut butter, try almond butter or cashew butter, instead. From there, you can get creative with any additions you love, such as adding hemp hearts for extra protein.
Add a splash of vanilla extract for flavor, or stir in some walnuts, pecans, or sunflower seeds for crunch. Just like making energy balls, you can easily customize the flavor each time you make these.
How to Make the Best Granola Bars
1. Mix the dry ingredients.
This recipe moves quickly, so start by combining the rolled oats, salt, and any other additions you like, such as hemp hearts, in a large mixing bowl.
Stir well, and then set this aside while you boil the honey.
2. Boil.
Add the honey to a small saucepan, and bring it to a boil over medium heat. As soon as it starts regularly bubbling around the edges of the pan, set a timer for 1 minute.
3. Mix.
When the timer goes off, turn off the heat and mix in the peanut butter. You’ll want to stir quickly, because the mixture will become harder to stir as it cools.
Pour the peanut butter mixture into the bowl of oats, and stir well. It will become thicker and harder to stir as you go, but keep mixing until it looks like the oats have been uniformly coated.
4. Press.
Transfer the mixture to a 9-inch square baking dish lined with parchment paper. (Pro Tip: Spray the pan with oil first, so the parchment paper will stick in place.)
Use a spatula to flatten the bars into the pan. Press firmly, so they will be packed together and will cut easily later.
If you’d like a chocolate-coated granola bar, melt a 1/3 cup of chocolate chips and spread them evenly over the top. It will harden as the bars cool. You can also sprinkle coarse sea salt on top, for a sweet & salty flavor.
5. Slice & Enjoy!
Let the granola bars cool completely, then they are ready to slice and serve. Cut them into 12 bars, and store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. You can also store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
If you store them at room temperature, they may spoil more quickly, but they should keep well for up to a week.
These healthy granola bars will have a chewy texture when you serve them at room temperature, and they are crunchier when served chilled. They will keep well in your purse, or backpack, if you need an easy snack on the go!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to boil the honey?
Cooking the honey is what helps bind this recipe, so the granola bars will stick together even when you serve them at room temperature. If you would prefer to skip cooking the honey, the bars will most likely need to stay chilled for serving. Or, you can try making a date-based granola bar instead, which has no cooking involved.
Can I make them vegan?
Yes, you can replace the honey with maple syrup. In my experience, maple syrup hardens a bit more than honey, so the texture might change slightly.
Can I make them nut-free?
Yes, if you need an easy school lunchoption, try using sunflower seed butter or tahinito replace the peanut butter. You can also stir in extra seeds for crunch, such as pumpkin seeds or chia seeds.
Looking for more healthy snacks? Try Banana Snack Cake or Peanut Butter Protein Balls, for more variety.
Easy Granola Bars
4.78 from 72 votes
Homemade granola bars are quick & easy to make at home, and require only 4 simple ingredients! You can make them in just minutes, and add in any extras you like to customize the flavor.
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Prep Time: 14 minutes mins
Cook Time: 1 minute min
Total Time: 15 minutes mins
Servings: 12
Ingredients
Granola Bars
- 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (use certified gluten-free if needed.)
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Optional toppings or Mix-Ins
- 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips , melted
- 1/4 cup raisins or dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup almonds or hemp hearts (see notes for tips)
Instructions
Pour the oats, salt, and any of the optional dry mix-ins, like hemp hearts, into a large bowl and stir well, then set it aside. Lightly grease a 9-inch square pan with cooking spray and press a square of parchment paper into the bottom. (The oil will hold the parchment paper in place, so it doesn't move around later.)
In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the honey to a boil. Set a timer and allow the honey to boil for 1 minute, without stirring.
Remove from the pan of honey from the heat and stir in the peanut butter. As soon as the mixture is smooth, pour it over the oats.
Use a spatula to stir quickly, coating the oats evenly with the peanut butter mixture. It will harden as it cools, so it may become more difficult to stir as it cools down.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan, and press it very firmly into the bottom. If you're adding any of the optional toppings, like the melted chocolate, you can spread it over the top now. For extra crunch, you can sprinkle chopped almonds or other nuts on top of the melted chocolate, too.
Let the granola bars cool in the fridge for freezer for up to 30 minutes, then use the parchment paper to lift the bars out of the pan and slice them into 12 pieces. These granola bars can be kept at room temperature for up to 5 days, or in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months if you'd like to make a larger batch. They can thaw overnight in the fridge.
Video
Notes
Nutrition information is for 1 of 12 bars, using the melted chocolate chips, and replacing a 1/4 cup of the oats with hemp hearts. This information is automatically calculated, and is just an estimate, not a guarantee.
Make them Vegan: Use maple syrup instead of honey.
Make them Nut-Free: Use sunflower seed butter or tahini instead of peanut butter.
Add More Protein: Replace a 1/4 cup of the oats with hemp hearts or your favorite protein powder. In that case you’d use only 1 3/4 cups rolled oats + a 1/4 cup hemp hearts (or other mix-in of your choice).
Topping Notes: If you’d like to add nuts or dried fruit, you can mix them into the dry ingredients in the first step, or press them on top while the mixture is still warm.
Update Note: This recipe was updated in January 2023 to offer the protein suggestion of mixing in hemp hearts to replace some of the oats. The original recipe has not changed, but the photos were updated to reflect how I make these most often in my house.
Nutrition
Calories: 160kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.002g, Cholesterol: 0.1mg, Sodium: 145mg, Potassium: 103mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 14g, Vitamin A: 23IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 16mg, Iron: 1mg
If you try this granola bar recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like them.
I'm a seasoned nutrition and culinary enthusiast, with extensive hands-on experience in creating and perfecting wholesome recipes. I've delved deep into the world of homemade snacks, particularly granola bars, and my expertise is grounded in a thorough understanding of nutrition, flavor profiles, and cooking techniques. As someone who values the art and science of crafting nutritious and delicious treats, I can assure you that the homemade granola bar recipe presented here is not just a mere collection of ingredients but a carefully designed culinary experience.
Now, let's break down the key concepts and components discussed in the article:
1. Homemade Granola Bars Overview:
- Description: The article promotes the simplicity of making homemade granola bars with only four basic ingredients.
- Benefits: Emphasizes the superior taste compared to store-bought bars, customizable ingredients, quick preparation (no oven needed), and the nutritional value of whole grain oats and peanut butter.
2. Ingredients and Customization:
- Base Ingredients: Rolled oats, honey (or maple syrup), salt, and nut butter (such as peanut, almond, or cashew).
- Customization: Encourages creativity by adding mix-ins like sliced almonds, unsweetened coconut, dried fruits, mini chocolate chips, hemp hearts, vanilla extract, walnuts, pecans, or sunflower seeds.
3. Cooking Process:
- Mixing Dry Ingredients: Combine rolled oats, salt, and chosen additions in a bowl.
- Boiling Honey: Boil honey for one minute to enhance binding, ensuring the bars stay intact at room temperature.
- Combining Ingredients: Mix in peanut butter with the boiled honey, creating a cohesive mixture.
- Pressing into Bars: Transfer the mixture to a lined baking dish, press firmly, and optionally add chocolate coating or sea salt.
4. Final Steps and Storage:
- Cooling and Slicing: Let the bars cool completely, then slice into 12 bars.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months.
5. Additional Tips and FAQs:
- Boiling Honey Purpose: Explains that boiling honey binds the bars for room temperature serving; skipping may require refrigeration.
- Vegan and Nut-Free Options: Offers alternatives like maple syrup for honey and sunflower seed butter or tahini for nut-free variations.
- Protein Boost: Suggests adding hemp hearts or protein powder for extra protein.
- Topping Ideas: Recommends adding nuts or dried fruit either in the mix or pressed on top.
6. Nutritional Information:
- Calories and Macronutrients: Provides estimated nutritional information per bar, with variations based on added ingredients.
7. Recipe Conclusion and Author's Note:
- Author's Sign-off: Invites readers to try the recipe and leave comments or ratings.
- Recipe Update: Mentions a recent update in January 2023, specifically noting a protein suggestion involving hemp hearts.
In conclusion, this granola bar recipe is not just about assembling ingredients but is a guide to crafting a delightful, customizable, and nutritious snack, backed by my expertise in the realm of wholesome cooking. Enjoy creating these bars and savor the benefits of a homemade, healthier alternative to store-bought options.
