The Best Homemade Healthy Granola Bars! These healthy granola bars are refined sugar free, easy to make & delicious- a perfect healthy snack!
Â
This chewy granola bar recipe is super easy to make, and is full of wholesome goodness from oats and honey! They have the perfect texture from crispy rice cereal, and a touch of sweetness from chocolate chips. Kids and adults love these healthy granola bars!
If you’re searching for a more nutritious option compared to the typical store-bought granola bars, you’re in for a treat with these chewy chocolate chip granola bars.
Whether you’re a parent seeking a health conscious snack for your kids or a busy professional in need of a quick on the go bite, these homemade granola bars are sure to become a favorite.
For a similar flavor, but more of a treat, try this Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe.
why homemade chewy granola bars are better than store-bought
- Wholesome ingredients with unrefined sugars and no corn syrup! Packed with omega-3s and beneficial fiber, these bars have natural sweeteners of honey and coconut sugar. There’s also a small handful of mini chocolate chips. An important difference between homemade granola bars and store-bought chewy chocolate chip granola bars is that most brands use high fructose corn syrup in their products. You won’t find any corn syrup in this recipe!
- A quick and healthy grab and go snack. Offer these bars as an after school treat that you can feel good about, pack them in lunches or grab one on the way to the gym for some pre-workout carbs.
- Super simple recipe that’s quick to make. The best part… they’re incredibly straightforward to prepare, coming together in under an hour and a half, requiring only 20 minutes of hands on time.
Ingredients
To make these granola bars you’ll need:
- old fashioned oats & quick cook oats – a combo of the two oats helps achieve the perfect texture just like the ones you get at the store!
- honey
- coconut oil
- coconut sugar
- vanilla extract
- crispy rice cereal- We think you’ll love the extra texture that comes from using this ingredient!
- ground flaxseed – flaxseed helps add protein, healthy fats and omega 3’s!
- sea salt – this is optional but we love the salty/sweet combo!
- mini chocolate chips – chopped dark chocolate would also be delicious in these
Substitutions
Old Fashioned Oats / Quick Cook Oats: This recipe uses a combination of old-fashioned and quick oats to achieve the perfect chewy texture. You can opt to use 100% of one type of oats, but the texture and appearance will be a little different. Steel cut oats will not work in this recipe.
Gluten Free: Make sure to use gluten-free certified oats and cereal to make these bars gluten free. We love the Thrive Market Products!
Honey: Raw, unfiltered honey is our preference. We did not test other sweeteners in this recipe. The honey plays an important role in binding the ingredients together so we don’t recommend substituting it. That being said, brown-rice syrup, maple syrup or agave may work for substitutions, but we can’t guarantee that you’ll have good results.
Coconut Oil: Don’t substitute the coconut oil- when chilled it works as a binding agent in these bars. If you don’t like the taste of coconut oil, you can use refined coconut oil which is neutral flavored. Do not use the type of coconut oil that is liquid at room temperature.Â
Coconut Sugar: Coconut sugar can easily taste burnt because it has a naturally toasty flavor, so be careful when heating it on the stove with the coconut oil and honey – stir frequently! Brown sugar will work as a substitution for coconut sugar in this recipe.Â
Crispy Rice Cereal: Any type of unflavored puffed rice OR crispy rice cereal can be used. This ingredient adds the perfect light and crunchy texture to the bars.Â
Ground Flax Seed: Ground flax seed is added to this recipe to add a little nutrition and healthy omega-3 fats. If this is not something you buy or use regularly, you can omit this ingredient.
Mini Chocolate Chips: You can use regular chocolate chips if this is what you have on hand. Mini chocolate chips disperse more evenly and are easier to bind into the bars. Use dairy-free mini chocolate chips if needed. Omit the chocolate chips and substitute raisins or dried fruits (dried cranberries would be good!) and a teaspoon of cinnamon for a different flavored bar. You could also try our Protein Oatmeal Raisin Bars.
I haven’t tried it but I think subbing chocolate chips with chopped nuts would also be good. Cashews, pecans, walnuts or almonds would all work!
Vegan: To make this recipe you can use dairy free chocolate chips. We haven’t tried substituting brown rice syrup for honey but I think it would work.
How to make Healthy Granola Bars
- Spread out oats onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and toast them in a 350° oven for 3 minutes, stir, and then toast for another 2-3 minutes. Allow to cool.
- Add coconut oil, coconut sugar, and honey to a pot. Stir until the oil is melted and the sugar is dissolved. Bring to a low simmer. Once the mixture starts to bubble remove from the heat, stir in vanilla extract, and allow it to cool.
- In a bowl, combine toasted oats with puffed rice cereal and salt. Stir together. Stir in honey/coconut oil mixture.
- Wait for the granola mixture to fully cool. Stir in the chocolate chips until they are evenly dispersed.
- Spread into a parchment lined baking pan. Press the granola mixture into the pan. Place in the fridge and chill for about 1 hour.
- To cut, carefully remove the granola from the pan. Place it on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to cut it.
Healthy Granola Bar FAQ
Healthy is a relative term. Granola bars can be a healthy snack, but they aren’t necessarily something that you should eat every day.
The best option when you’re hungry is a meal that’s filled with lean protein, fruits and/or veggies, healthy carbs, and healthy fats. In a pinch or when on the go, a homemade granola bar is usually a better choice than other ‘snack’ foods.
There are a few options for a binder for homemade granola bars. This recipe uses honey and coconut oil.
If your granola bars are not holding together as expected, it’s a good idea to review the quantities of honey and coconut oil you’ve added. Additionally, make sure to firmly press the mixture into your pan, then refrigerate it for approximately an hour before cutting. After cutting, refrigeration is again necessary to guarantee a firm and cohesive bar.
Tips for the Best Homemade Granola Bars
Toast the oats to enhance the flavor. This step doesn’t take much time, and it is so worth doing! Toasting grains gives them a nutty flavor that pairs really well with the other granola bar ingredients.
Stir the sugar mixture constantly to prevent it from scorching. Coconut sugar can easily taste burnt because it has a naturally toasty flavor, so be careful when heating it on the stove with the coconut oil and honey – stir frequently!
Wait for the syrup mixture to cool completely before adding the chocolate chips. The oats will be added to the honey and coconut sugar mixture on the stove, and it will be very hot. Adding the chips too quickly will cause them to melt.
Press the granola bar mixture firmly into the pan. For the best chewy granola bars, place a piece of parchment paper over the mixture to prevent it from sticking to your hands. Press the mixture firmly down into the pan to compact it.
Allow the bars to chill in the fridge for about an hour before cutting and then return them to the fridge after cutting. Once the coconut oil hardens in the fridge overnight the bars will be more resilient at room temperature, but if not chilled properly they may fall apart if they get too warm.
Storage
The bars can be wrapped individually or stored together. Because they can be kind of sticky, it can be helpful to separate layers of bars which parchment paper if storing them together in an airtight container or resealable bag.
Storing: Store these chewy granola bars in the fridge in an airtight container for up to two weeks. After the bars have been chilled overnight in the refrigerator, you can pack them in lunches or throw one in sandwich bag and toss it in your purse to enjoy on the go.
The bars will be fine at room temperature but will begin to soften and may fall apart if stored in the heat for an extended period of time.Â
Freezing: We haven’t tried freezing these bars, but I think they would get a little soggy in the freezer because the oats/cereal would absorb the moisture.
Other healthy snack recipes:
We love easy protein packed snacks. Here are some of our favorites:
Healthy Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup old fashioned oats 100 g
- 1 cup quick cook oats 100 g
- 1/2 cup honey 165 g
- 1/4 cup coconut oil 50 g
- 2 talespoons coconut sugar 25 g
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups crispy rice cereal 60 g
- 1/4 cup ground flaxseed 25 g
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips 60 g
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a square 9×9 baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Spread out the old-fashioned oats and quick oats onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and toast them in the preheated oven for 3 minutes, stir and then toast for another 2-3 minutes or until lightly golden (do not wait for them to turn brown, you just want them lightly toasted). Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
- Heat a small saucepan over medium heat. Add coconut oil, coconut sugar, and honey to the pan and stir together until the coconut oil is melted and the sugar is dissolved.
- Bring the mixture to a low simmer, stirring continuously. Once the mixture starts to bubble remove from the heat, stir in vanilla extract and allow it to cool slightly.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the toasted oats with the puffed rice cereal flaxseed, and salt and stir together. Pour the honey/coconut oil mixture over the other ingredients and use a rubber spatula to stir and coat evenly.
- Wait for the granola mixture to fully cool before mixing in the mini chocolate chips (if the mixture is even slightly warm it will melt the chocolate). Stir in the chocolate chips until they are fully incorporated into the granola and evenly dispersed.
- Spread the granola mixture into the lined square baking pan. Use an extra piece of parchment paper to press the granola mixture into the pan, packing tightly and evenly.
- Place the pan in the fridge and chill for about 1 hour before cutting.
- To cut, carefully remove the granola from the pan using the parchment paper to lift. Place it on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to cut it in half and then cut each half into 7 pieces a little larger than 1-inch wide. Store the bars in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to enjoy.
De says
These bars are great! I usually use brown sugar. Today I was out of honey and I substituted maple syrup. Wow. That’s tasty! I also subbed creamy peanut butter for the coconut oil. That makes the wet ingredients creamier. Hubby does not like no-bake bars, so I always toss these in the oven for about 8 minutes, then check. I usually add about 2 more minutes. These come out perfect everytime! Thanks for posting!
Pam S says
Made this Healthy Granola Bar recipe today and I have to say it is so very good! So easy to make in a short amount of time and the texture and taste I rate at a 10! I will be making this snack on repeat. I highly recommend you give it a try.
Toni says
Made these per the recipe for my husband who grabs snacks for skiing and hiking. They were a hit and I’d make them again.
Lynn says
I made these granola bars yesterday with a few changes. I’m terribly allergic to all things coconut, so I used butter instead of coconut oil, I omitted the coconut sugar and added about 1/2 tsp. Stevia,and used maple syrup instead of honey. I did use flax meal and they turned out great. The mixture was a bit warm when I added the chocolate chips, but if they started to melt it was harly noticable and after chilling they don’t look melted at all. Everybody loves them, so a definite keeper. Thanks for sharing.
Lynn says
I cannot find in the instructions for granola bars when and/or where to add the flax meal. Please clarify
The Clean Eating Couple says
It’s in step 5, click the green jump to recipe!
Diana says
I’m definitely planning on making these but will likely omit the flax seed. What are your thoughts of sprinkling in some protein powder to the mix?
Shu Hua Chan says
I love those BARS
They are heathy snake
And easy to carry around ….