Homemade Granola Bars: 42 Granola Bar Recipes We Love (2024)

Homemade granola bars are amazing for so many reasons. They’re a healthy option you can enjoy for breakfast or a midday snack, and they’re incredibly easy to make! They only require a few ingredients, and allow you to get creative with your flavours! They’re the perfect grab-and-go snack for busy days, and whether you like them chewy or crunchy, we’ve got 42 delicious granola bar recipes you can make easily at home!

How to Make Homemade Granola Bars

While each granola bar recipe calls for different ingredients, there are some handy tips you should know when making homemade granola bars. Here are 6 of our best tips below!

1. Toast Your Oats
Unless you’re making no-bake homemade granola bars, toasting your oats first is always a good idea. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and while it’s warming up, coat a 15x10x1-inch pan with cooking spray. Place the oats (and almonds if you’re using them) on the pan and cook for 5 to 10 minutes, or until toasted. Stir the mixture every once in a while to ensure it’s toasted evenly.

2. Press the Mixture Into the Pan
If you want granola bars rather than granola, it’s important to press the granola mixture into the pan. The harder and longer you press, the more the mixture will stay together, otherwise it will be easier for the mixture to fall apart. You don’t have to go crazy, but pressing the mixture for up to one minute is a good amount of time!

3. Honey and Brown Sugar Work Like Glue
If you’re having trouble getting your granola bars to stick together, brown sugar and honey will help. Chocolate chips can also help, and while some of the chocolate may melt, the melted chocolate acts as extra glue holding the bars together. You can always add extra chocolate chips to the top of the granola bars at the end- they won’t melt!

4. Use Little Tricks
This step has everything to do with preference. Do you prefer your homemade granola bars soft and chewy? Add flaxseed meal into the bars. On the flip side, if you like them crunchy, bake them again for 5 to 10 minutes after cutting them. The great thing about homemade granola bars is that you can make them however you like them best!

5. Get Creative with Mix-ins
Personalization is everything when it comes to homemade granola bars. You can mix and match almost any ingredient from chocolate chips to coconut, raisins, chopped nuts, and other dried fruits and seeds. Think of the flavours you’d love to taste in your granola bars and get creative!

6. Let Them Cool Off
It may be tempting to bite into your granola bars right away, but they need to cool off completely before cutting them into bars. Once they’re done baking, leave them at room temperature, or put them in the fridge. It may take a couple of hours, so be prepared to wait a while as they cool off.

7 Nut Free Homemade Granola Bars

1. Healthy Nut-Free Granola Bars | Everyday Easy Eats
2. Nut-Free Crispy Chewy Honey Granola Bars | CBC
3. Nut-Free Chocolate Chip Granola Bars | The Wellth
4. Superfood Nut Free Granola Bars | Ambitious Kitchen
5. Nut-Free Maple Granola Bars | Dada Eats
6. Nut-Free School-Safe Homemade Granola Bars | Yummy Mummy Club
7. Vegan and Nut-Free Granola Bar | From My Bowl

7 Homemade Granola Bars for Kids

1. Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars | Once Upon a Chef
2. Honey Sweetened Almond Chocolate Chip Granola Bars | Cookie + Kate
3. Chewy Peanut Butter Granola Bars | Gimme Some Oven
4. Rainbow Chip Granola Bars | Peas and Crayons
5. Mango Coconut Granola Bars | Spoonful of Flavour
6. Cranberry Chocolate Chip Homemade Granola Bars | Baked by Rachel
7. Banana Nut Bread Granola Bars | Cupcakes and Kale Chips

7 Chewy Homemade Granola Bars

1. Gluten Free Chewy Granola Bars | Iowa Girl Eats
2. Healthy Chewy Granola Bars | Chocolate Covered Katie
3. Peanut Butter Honey Soft Granola Bars | Pinch of Yum
4. Thick, Chewy Granola Bars | Smitten Kitchen
5. Copycat Quaker Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars | Lovely Little Kitchen
6. Soft and Chewy Protein Granola Bars | Running with Spoons
7. Pumpkin Maple Nut Pumpkin Spice Granola Bars | Cupcakes and Kale Chips

7 Peanut Butter Homemade Granola Bars

1. 5-Ingredient Peanut Butter Granola Bars | The Real Food RDs
2. No Bake Chewy Peanut Butter Granola Bars | Ambitious Kitchen
3. Trail Mix Peanut Butter Granola Bars | Well Plated
4. Peanut Butter Honey Granola Bars | Julie’s Eats and Treats
5. 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Granola Bars | Beaming Baker
6. 5- Ingredient Granola Bar | Minimalist Baker
7. Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Granola Bars | Sweet Phi

7 No Bake Homemade Granola Bars

1. No-Bake Chocolate Chip Granola Bars | Lauren’s Latest
2. 10 Minute No Bake Granola Bars | Spend With Pennies
3. DIY No Bake Chewy Granola Bars | Bowl of Delicious
4. No Bake Rice Krispies Granola Bars | 365 days of Baking and More
5. No Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Granola Bars | Athletic Avocado
6. No Bake Sweet and Salty Homemade Granola Bars | Running with Spoons
7. No Bake Chewy Granola Bars with Almond, Flax and Chia Seeds | Eat Well 101

7 No Sugar Homemade Granola Bars

1. Sugar Free Keto Granola Bars | Food Faith Fitness
2. Sugar Free Trail Mix Granola Bars | Bigger Bolder Baking
3. Sugar and Grain Free Granola Bars | Ditch the Carbs
4. Low Carb Granola Bars | Sweet as Honey
5. Apple Cinnamon Granola Bars | Sugar Free Londoner
6. Sugar-Free Low Carb Grain-Free Granola Bars | Sugar-Free Mom
7. Sugar-Free Low Carb Granola Bars with Chocolate Chips | Low Carb Maven

Homemade granola bars are one of the best snacks you can whip up in your kitchen! Try our tips and recipes for delicious bars that everyone will enjoy.

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Homemade Granola Bars: 42 Granola Bar Recipes We Love (2024)

FAQs

What do you use to bind granola bars together? ›

While there are several different sticky ingredients that you can use, we've found that the binding agent that works the best is honey! When added to your homemade granola bars, honey acts as glue that sticks all the pieces together.

Is it cheaper to make granola bars at home? ›

They save well (wrap and freeze them for up to two months), are more affordable than store-bought bars, and don't contain the long list of unpronounceable ingredients. Plus, your kitchen will smell like a bakery while these granola bars bake. Ahhhh.

How many granola bars can I eat a day? ›

For most people, a granola bar in your lunch or for snack every day is not going to be an issue. If we're having 2-3 a day, maybe it's time to find some more variety in your snacks, but that could vary by the person based on their specific needs.

Do granola bars count as junk food? ›

Often touted for their whole grain goodness, most granola bars are sticky-sweet junk food in disguise. Don't let a few oats fool you — especially when you also see marshmallows and chocolate chips. Instead: If granola bars are a must-have, choose one with 6 grams of sugar or less per bar, and hopefully some fibre.

How do I get my homemade granola bars to stick together? ›

Honey – Along with the nut butter, it helps all these ingredients stick together! I love its warm amber flavor in this recipe. Vanilla extract – It amps up the bars' warm flavor.

What is the best glue for granola bars? ›

Honey and brown sugar help make a glue for the bars.

The honey and brown sugar really helps with keeping the bars together. Chocolate chips added to the mixture help, too. We add some to the granola mixture while it is still warm.

Why do my homemade granola bars fall apart? ›

If your granola bars are falling apart or seem too crumbly, here are a few tips. Make sure you use honey or another sticky sweetener such as maple syrup in the liquid part of the recipe; this recipe calls for honey. This will help bind together the ingredients and keep that signature bar shape.

Is it OK to eat a lot of granola bars? ›

Yes, it is possible to eat too much granola. While granola can be a healthy and nutritious food, it is often high in calories and sugar, especially if it contains added sweeteners or dried fruit. Eating too much granola on a regular basis can contribute to weight gain and other health problems.

Why are homemade granola not crunchy? ›

Baking time: Increase the baking time for your granola. The longer you bake it, the drier and crunchier it will become. Keep a close eye on it to avoid burning, and stir it occasionally during baking to ensure even toasting.

Can I eat granola bar everyday? ›

Yes, granola can be eaten daily. As part of a balanced diet and if the portions are checked. Go for healthier options with less added sugars and saturated fats to get the most out of it.

What do granola bars do for your body? ›

Aside from being good for one's weight, granola bars are low in sodium as well, which reduces the appetite and keeps you feeling full for a longer amount of time, thus reducing your food intake. Sodium and cholesterol are both major contributing factors to obesity, both of which granola bars fight.

Can diabetics eat granola? ›

Key Takeaways. A person with diabetes can continue to eat and enjoy granola. Granola can be a good source of protein, fat, and fiber, all of which can contribute to building a balanced meal or snack for a person with diabetes.

What foods are secretly unhealthy? ›

Take a look through these secretly unhealthy foods, and learn some tasty alternatives to try instead.
  • Energy bars. Energy bars are portable and convenient, and that's a big reason why people love them. ...
  • Dried fruit. ...
  • Bran muffins. ...
  • Agave nectar. ...
  • Fruit juice. ...
  • Pita chips. ...
  • Vitamin-enriched water. ...
  • Frozen veggie burgers.
Jul 21, 2020

Is peanut butter a healthy fat? ›

Peanut butter does contain plenty of heart-healthy unsaturated fatty acids, per the USDA. “Peanuts and peanut butter is rich in oleic acid, a type of omega-9 fatty acid which helps lower LDL or bad cholesterol,” says Largeman-Roth.

What are 10 unhealthy foods? ›

Here are top 10 unhealthy foods that extremely harmful for your health:
  • Sugar. How many times have you been advised to cut down on sugar? ...
  • Soft drinks. Carbonated soft drinks are one of the biggest sources of added sugar and caffeine in the diet. ...
  • Refined carbohydrates. ...
  • Alcohol. ...
  • Potato crisps. ...
  • Margarine. ...
  • Canned soups. ...
  • Doughnuts.
Feb 6, 2024

What is a good binding agent for granola? ›

Nut butter is a super flavorful fat that serves multiple purposes in granola. It acts as a binding agent—along with additional coconut oil and whatever natural sweetener I've chosen—helping to pull the dry ingredients together into a wet, sticky mass for baking.

What is a good binder for protein bars? ›

Overall, raisins are an excellent binder that perform well when used in protein bar applications and could be used as a binder in many other applications. BENCHTOP PROCESSING METHOD: In a food processor or buffalo chopper, blend whole raisins, half the nuts, all the egg white, salt, vanilla, and yogurt powder.

How do you tamp granola? ›

Get as clumpy as you like.

First, press the granola into an even layer before you put it in the oven. Then, stir it only once halfway through cooking. For really good clumps, press down on the finished granola before it cools and avoid jostling it on the pan until cooled completely.

What do you wrap homemade granola bars in? ›

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!

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