These filling homemade granola bars are the perfect snack for any time of the day. The simple bars are loaded with healthy ingredients and take about 30 minutes to make.
You’ll forget all about store-bought granola bars after you have a bite of our homemade version.
The tasty snack is loaded with ingredients that are not only healthy but super flavorful as well. Dried blueberries, almond butter, Greek yogurt, and a variety of seeds are just some of the ingredients that bring these homemade treats to life.
The simple recipe couldn’t be easier to make and perfect for those just getting started in the kitchen. Let your little chefs get in on the cooking action, too, and let them stir together all of the ingredients before the bars hit the oven.
If you’ve fallen in love with our homemade protein bars over the years, chances are you will enjoy these homemade granola bars just as much.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Keeps You Full. While this recipe isn’t as protein-forward as our homemade protein bars, it does have a lot of protein-packed ingredients that will keep you full all day long.
- All Levels Of Cooking. These bars are easy to make, no matter your skill level in the kitchen.
- Personalized Snack. Not a fan of dried blueberries? Prefer peanut butter to almond butter? Not a problem! Switch up the recipe and swap in your personal favorites.
- A Healthy Snack. Finding snacks that are actually good for you can sometimes be a challenge. That is not a problem with these granola bars.
How To Make Homemade Granola Bars
These homemade granola bars will be better than anything you find in the store. All of the details, plus the full recipe, are listed below.
Key Ingredients
- Raw Oats. The base for the granola bars. While the oats are rather plain, the additional ingredients liven them up.
- Dried Blueberries. Look for blueberries that have no added sugar or preservatives to keep the granola bars on the healthy side.
- Almond Butter. The glue that holds all of the ingredients together.
- Greek Yogurt. Adds a slight zest and refreshing flavor to the bars.
- Seeds. Sesame seeds, hemp seeds, and sunflower seeds are all added to the granola bar mix.
- Coconut Nectar. Gives the granola bars a slight touch of sweetness.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1. Prepare. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and prepare an 8×8 pan with butter or oil. Set to the side.
Step 2. Mix All Ingredients. Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl, making sure to fully mix everything together.
Step 3. Add To Pan. Press all of the “batter” into the prepared pan. You’ll want to make sure it is pressed down very tightly to the pan. Use the back of a wooden spoon or a piece of parchment paper to press it down flat.
Step 4. Bake. Place the bars in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. The bars will have a light golden brown color when done.
Step 5. Cut and Enjoy. Let the bars cool down fully before cutting. Slice the bars into small bars. You can even place them in the freezer before cutting to help them from crumbling during the cutting stage. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips and Variations
- Mix The Batter Thoroughly. There is nothing like taking a bite of a granola bar and finding it bland in flavor. Make sure the toppings are evenly mixed throughout the batter and everything is distributed evenly.
- Swap Out The Mix-In. If blueberries and sunflower seeds don’t mix with your tastebuds, feel free to swap them out. Dried fruit, almonds, or yogurt chips are great substitutions.
- Freeze The Bars Before Cutting. If you want to have perfectly sliced bars every time they come out of the oven, stick them in the freezer during the cooling process. Freezing the bars will keep everything together and keep all of the mix-ins in place when you go to slice them up.
Make-Ahead & Storage Recommendation
Homemade granola bars are an excellent snack to make and keep for the week to come. The bars can be made ahead of time and wrapped individually so they will stay fresh. The bars can also be made ahead of time and placed in the freezer. When ready to eat, leave them out to thaw for a few hours. You can even place a frozen bar in a lunch box in the morning and have it all thawed out by lunch, making for the ultimate snack!
Frequently Asked Questions
It may not seem like granola bars are cheaper to make when you buy all of the separate ingredients, but you will save money in the long run. The bulk ingredients will let you make several batches of the bars.
Yes! While it depends on what you add in to your granola bars, our granola bars tend to be healthier than store-bought granola bars. We use fresh ingredients and items without preservatives to keep the bars healthy.
The almond butter acts as the glue in the granola bar recipe to help keep everything together. The sticky consistency of the almond butter keeps everything in place.
Try These Other Homemade Snacks
- Healthy Homemade Granola – Excellent for snacking on the go or adding to trail mix or yogurt.
- Spiced Pumpkin Granola with Cashews and Cranberries – A fall twist on a classic snack.
- Homemade Protein Bars – A healthy option that will keep you full for hours on end.
Homemade Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups raw oats make sure to use certified gluten-free oats if you need the recipe to be gluten-free
- 1 cup dried blueberries try to find ones without added sugar or preservatives; you could also use raisins, currants or your favorite dried fruit, chopped small
- 1/2 cup almond butter or use organic peanut butter, or a different nut/seed butter
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt to make this recipe vegan, omit and use 1/2 cup more almond butter
- 1/3 cup hemp seeds available in bulk food section of natural food stores
- 1/3 cup sesame seeds
- 1/3 cup sunflower seeds
- 1/4 cup coconut nectar or honey, maple syrup, molasses, or your favorite all-natural liquid sweetener
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix all ingredients until well combined.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Press "batter" into a lightly buttered/oiled 8 x 8 inch pan. Really press down/pack it in.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until light golden brown. Cool before slicing into bars (freezing them before doing so may keep them from crumbling when slicing).