I love the convenience of a granola bar, but am not a fan of all of ingredients and preservatives in packaged bars. These healthy homemade granola bars are so simple to put together, you’ll never be tempted to buy them from the grocery store again.

Overhead view of granola bars with walnuts, chocolate chips and dried cranberries lined up in two rows on a marble surface.

You wouldn’t believe how easy it is to make granola bars at home. Simply mix together the dry ingredients in one bowl, and the wet ingredients in another bowl, and then combine them together. Bake and slice and you have yourself granola bars.

Step by step process: mix dry ingredients, mix wet ingredients, combine wet and dry, place in square pan, bake and cut into bars.

Tips on making the best homemade granola bars

Toast your nuts. For the best flavor and texture, toast your nuts before adding them to the granola base. See the notes on the recipe card for details.
Press down mixture before baking. To prevent the bars from breaking apart, make sure to press the mixture down tightly. I like put a piece of parchment on top of the granola mix so my hand doesn’t stick to it.
Make this recipe your own. Add whatever dried fruits and nuts that you like. Skip the chocolate if that’s not your thing. Here are some flavor suggestions:
- dried blueberries, white chocolate, almond
- dried cherries, dark chocolate, pecans
- chopped dried apricots, milk chocolate, hazelnuts
- chopped dried figs, dark chocolate, pistachios
- salted peanuts, milk chocolate
- sliced almonds, dark chocolate, coconut flakes

Is this recipe gluten free?

Yes! All of these ingredients are inherently gluten free, just make sure the oats and mix-in ingredients are not processed with foods containing wheat. You want that gluten free guarantee.

Can I make these granola bars vegan?

Yes! I tested this recipe so so many times, so I can assure you these come out great without the eggs whites, and you can substitute maple syrup for honey. I might even like the flavor of maple syrup more! The vegan version might not stick together 100% as well as my main recipe, but they are still great. You can also use coconut sugar instead of brown sugar, but the texture won’t be quite as chewy, which might actually be a good thing depending on your preference.

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Healthy Homemade Granola Bars

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Author: Sabrina Russo
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 12 granola bars 1x
Diet: Gluten Free

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Description

Ditch the packaged granola bars and try my easy homemade granola bars recipe! These bars are healthy and take less than an hour to make from start to finish!

Ingredients

Scale

2 ½ cups rolled oats
½ cup dried cranberries, or fruit of choice*
¼ cup chopped, toasted walnuts, or nut of choice*
¼ cup mini chocolate chips*
½ tsp kosher salt or ¼ tsp fine salt
¹/₃ cup honey (maple syrup if vegan)
¼ cup packed brown sugar*
¼ cup coconut oil, melted*
2 large egg whites (omit if vegan)
½ tsp vanilla extract

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Instructions

Prep oven and pan: Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper with over-hanging edges.
Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, stir together oats, dried fruit, nuts, chocolate and salt.
Mix wet ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together honey, sugar, oil, egg whites and vanilla.
Combine wet and dry: Stir together wet and dry ingredients and spread into prepared pan, pressing down firmly to help prevent bars from breaking apart. I covered the top with another piece of parchment to prevent my hands from sticking to the oat mixture as I was pressing it down.
Bake: Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, rotating half way through, until golden brown and darker around edges. Allow to cool completely in pan.
Cut: For the cleanest cuts, chill in fridge for at least 1-2 hours before slicing. A large serrated knife or chef’s knife work well. Cut into 12 portions, or as desired. Serve bars at room temperature for best, chewy consistency.
Store: Store at room temperature for 3-5 days, or in fridge for up to 2 weeks. Take out of fridge for at least an hour before eating to allow to soften at room temperature. Bars can also be frozen for up to 3 months and defrosted overnight in the fridge. Enjoy.

Notes

As an alternative to dried cranberries, tried dried cherries, dried blueberries, chopped dried figs, chopped dried apricots or chopped dried prunes.

As an alternative to walnuts, try pecans, almonds, peanuts or hazelnuts.

To toast nuts, place on parchment lined baking sheet and toast for about 8 minutes at 350F, or until golden brown. Cool before chopping and adding to granola mix.

Try milk or white chocolate chips, or omit all together and add additional nuts.

You can substitute coconut sugar for brown sugar, however, the bars will be less chewy.

For coconut flavor, use unrefined coconut oil instead or refined coconut oil. You may also substitute canola oil or vegetable oil, however, the bars will not hold together quite as well.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Snack, Breakfast
Method: Bake
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 granola bar
Calories: 220
Sugar: 20g
Sodium: 62mg
Fat: 8g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Unsaturated Fat: 3g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 32g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 4g
Cholesterol: 31mg