Homemade Granola Bars Recipe
Granola Bar Recipe Ingredients
You only need 7 basic ingredients to make this homemade granola bar recipe:
Natural peanut or cashew butter – It helps bind the bars together, and it adds protein, healthy fats, and irresistible nutty flavor.
Whole rolled oats – They give these bars a perfect chewy texture. If you’re gluten-free, make sure that you use certified gluten-free oats.
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.
Sea salt – To make all the rich, sweet, and nutty flavors in this recipe pop!
Pepitas, crushed peanuts, or cashews – They add healthy fats, protein, and crunch.
Mini chocolate chips – Who doesn’t love nut butter and chocolate?! Be sure to use mini chocolate chips here, as regular chocolate chips are too big to make cohesive bars. If you don’t have mini chocolate chips, finely chopped dark chocolate will work in their place.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
Peanut butter and honey in a mixing bowl
How to Make Granola Bars
You won’t believe how easy it is to make this homemade granola bar recipe! Here’s what you need to do:
Stirring wet ingredients
First, stir together the wet ingredients – the cashew or peanut butter, honey, vanilla extract, and salt.
Peanut butter mixture in a bowl
Mix until the honey is fully incorporated. It will smell amazing!
Adding dry ingredients to wet ingredients
Second, fold in the dry ingredients – the oats, chocolate chips, and pepitas. The mixture might seem dry at first, but keep stirring! Everything will be fully incorporated in no time.
Homemade granola bars mixture
How to make granola bars
Next, press the bars into a parchment-lined baking pan. Scoop the mixture onto the bottom of the pan, and cover it with another sheet of parchment paper. Firmly press the mixture to the sides of the pan with your hands. Then, use the back of a measuring cup to smooth and flatten the tops of the bars.
Finally, chill! Transfer the pan to the fridge, and allow the mixture to chill for one hour before you slice and eat the bars. That’s it!
Making your own granola bars is not only simple but also offers a chance to customize flavors and ingredients to your liking. These chewy granola bars are perfect for meal prepping and can be stored for a quick snack anytime. You can swap ingredients based on your diet, adding nuts, dried fruits, or seeds for extra nutrition. Opt for natural sweeteners like maple syrup instead of honey for a vegan version, or mix in protein powder for added nutritional benefits. Experimenting with spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg can also enhance the flavor profile. Be sure to cut the bars evenly for consistent size and portion control, and consider wrapping them in parchment paper for easy on-the-go snacks. Enjoy your homemade creation and share it with friends for a healthy treat!