Healthy Granola Bars, my old friend. When I have a batch of you on hand, my life feels a little more together. A simple baked granola bar recipe made with oats, honey, and your mix-ins of choice, these easy bars are here for you, whatever wildness the day may hold.
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I cannot relate to the idea of being so busy you forget to eat.
Even on my most crazed days, my stomach checks in at regular intervals, and I can’t focus until I’ve met my body’s need for nourishment.
The quality of the snacks is where I need to pay attention.
- Having healthy snacks like these homemade granola bars (or Energy Balls) on hand for immediate consumption satisfies my hunger for hours.
- They are a much healthier option than reaching for a bag of chips, candy bar or other processed snacks that will leave you hungry again a short while later.
I am not a dietician, but I know that if you are looking for granola bars for weight loss and only focus on which granola bars have the least calories, you can miss the point.
- For a snack to keep you full and happy (and your hand out of the chip bag), it needs to have filling ingredients like fiber, protein, and healthy fats. These have 7 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber per serving!
- Otherwise, you’ll end up eating more overall than you would have if you would have simply selected a more satisfying (but higher calorie) bar in the first place.
These bars are truly sustaining!
I originally developed this healthy granola bars recipe for Ben and my long road trips.
Now, we take them on ski trips for a mid-mountain break, and I almost always have some in the freezer. It feels good to reach for a homemade bar instead of something from a box, and it is a serious cost savings too
If you’ve never made homemade granola bars, you are going to be pleasantly surprised by just how easy they are.
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 to Make Healthy Granola Bars
These bars are ultra easy to stir together, perfect for kids, post workout, and on-the-go-breakfasts, and the ingredients are flexible to what you have on hand.
You can even alter the baking time to make the bars chewier or crunchier, depending upon what your family prefers.
The Ingredients
- Oats. Full of fiber, nutrients, and shown to help lower levels of “bad” cholesterol, oats are inexpensive with a powerful healthy punch. Their fiber content in this whole grain is one of the reasons these healthy granola bars (as well as their cousin, No Bake Granola Bars) will keep you full.
- Nuts. Rich in omega-3s and a good source of protein, nuts make these bars both satisfying and super tasty. Use any nuts you love or have on hand: chopped almonds, pecans, walnuts, cashews, peanuts—my favorite is a mix, like what you’ll find in Trail Mix Peanut Butter Granola Bars.
- Pepitas. These little pumpkin seeds are packed with antioxidants and add another dimension of flavor.
- Unsweetened Coconut Flakes. Add irresistible toasty notes, without the need for excess sugar.
- Peanut Butter. Hello, healthy fats and more protein for sustenance. You can use any nut butter here you enjoy. (Fellow PB lovers, don’t miss these Peanut Butter Protein Bars.)
Tip!
The consistency of your bars will vary based on the brand of nut butter you use. If they seem too dry, add more peanut butter or honey; if they are too wet, add more oats one tablespoon at a time.
- Honey. Rejoice for healthy granola bars no sugar but the right about of sweetness! Storebought bars can contain three or four different forms of sugar. In these bars, you’ll find only natural honey.
- Cinnamon + Pure Vanilla Extract + Salt. This trio makes these homemade granola bars even more scrumptious (truly, processed bars do not stand a chance).
- Mix-Ins! One of the most fun parts of making granola bars from scratch is that you can make them any flavor. Try dried cranberries, chopped dried apricots, chia seeds or dark chocolate and you certainly can’t go wrong with chocolate chip peanut butter granola bars. These can easily be made dairy-free as well!
The Directions
- Toast the oats, nuts, and seeds. This adds big flavor!
- Warm the peanut butter and honey together until smooth. Stir in the spices.
- Stir the toasted oats and nuts into the peanut butter mixture.
- Press the mixture into a parchment-lined pan. Bake the healthy granola bars at 300 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool, slice, and ENJOY.
Chewy or Crunchy?
- For Chewy Granola Bars. Pull out the bars after 15 minutes.
- For Crunchy Granola Bars. Continue baking the bars 5 additional minutes, or 20 minutes total.
Storage Tips
- To Store. Store granola bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week or keep in the fridge for 2 weeks.
- To Freeze. Wrap bars airtight and store them in a ziptop bag in the freezer. Let thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature.
Storage Tips
For grab-and-go snacks at the ready, make a double batch, wrap the bars individually, then pull them out of your freezer on demand.
Healthy Alternatives to Granola Bars
While I do think granola bars can be healthy when you are watching the ingredients, if you are looking to vary it up and try some other healthy snacks, here are some suggestions:
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
- Baking Dish. This one is ideal for making granola bars.
- Baking Sheet. I use a baking sheet to toast my granola bar mix-ins.
- Saucepan. With countless everyday uses, a high-quality saucepan is a must-have item in every kitchen.
You’ll thank yourself for having these healthy granola bars around, whether your tummy growls like mine, or you are one of those people that has to remind yourself to eat lunch (but how?!).
Happy snacking!
Frequently Asked Questions
While store-bought granola bars can be unhealthy and full of added sugars, these homemade granola bars are healthy in moderation. They’re a delicious and nutritious snack option compared to those that come in a package.
If you want to ensure your granola bars are low in calories, watch what mix-ins you add. Make sure you use low-calorie mix-ins, and choose a nut butter with the least amount of calories.
Crumble up leftover granola bars over yogurt, or try them over vanilla ice cream for a treat.
Healthy Granola Bars Video
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Healthy Granola Bars
Video
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Ingredients
- 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- ¾ cup roughly chopped nuts like almonds, walnuts, pecans, peanuts or a mix
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds or pepitas or additional chopped nuts
- ¼ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- ½ cup honey
- ⅓ cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅓ cup mini chocolate chips or dried fruit or nuts
Instructions
- Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line an 8- or 9-inch square baking dish with parchment paper so that two sides of the paper overhang the sides like handles. Coat generously with nonstick spray.
- Spread the oats, nuts, sunflower seeds, and coconut flakes on a rimmed, ungreased baking sheet. Toast in the oven until the coconut looks lightly golden and the nuts are toasted and fragrant, about 10 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F.
- Meanwhile, heat the honey and peanut butter together in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the mixture is smoothly combined. Remove from the heat. Stir in the vanilla, cinnamon, and salt.
- As soon as the oat mixture is finished toasting, carefully transfer it to the pan with the peanut butter. With a rubber spatula, stir to combine. Let cool for 5 minutes, then add the chocolate chips (if you add the chocolate chips immediately, they will melt).
- Scoop the batter into the prepared pan. With the back of a spatula, press the bars into a single layer (you also can place a sheet of plastic wrap against the surface to deter sticking, then use your fingers; discard the plastic prior to baking).
- Bake the healthy granola bars for 15 to 20 minutes: 20 minutes will yield crunchier bars; at 15 they will be slightly chewier. With the bars still in the pan, press a knife down into the pan to cut into bars of your desired size (be sure to pick a knife that will not damage your pan—I typically cut into 2 rows of 5). Do not remove the bars. Let them cool completely in the pan.
- Once the bars have cooled completely, use the parchment to lift them onto a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut the bars again in the same place, going over your lines to separate. Pull apart and enjoy!
Notes
- TO STORE: Store granola bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week or refrigerate for 2 weeks.
- TO FREEZE: Wrap bars airtight and store them in a ziptop bag in the freezer. Let thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature.
Nutrition
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Girl, these look so good! I seriously want to make them right now so I can pre-game for my Bahamas cruise next week.
Sorry, I had to do it. I’m “that” girl.
But, you bring a batch of these granola bars…you can totally come with ;)
Popping over for the recipe!
SO JEALOUS! You’ll bring me in your suitcase right? ;-)
These granola bars will certainly brighten my day!
Turn the heater to the highest and drink some hot chocolate with those delicious bars, Erin.
Stay warm and happy!
Angie
I love homemade granola bars! Stay warm this weekend!
I feel the same way about old man winter. We here in Michigan are getting drenched in another snow storm. Plus just go updates for another one on Tuesday. Yuck! These bars look like some fun. Thanks for sharing.
Hang in there!!! It’s snowing here today too. Quick, let’s run to the kitchen and bake!
These granola bars look delicious!! :-)
Thanks so much! I must say, they didn’t last long around here :-)
I have made granola lots of times but never granola bars. This looks SO good!
If you love to make granola, granola bars are totally the next step! They are such an awesome snack–I think you will be addicted!
You were in San Diego at the right time. Today it is 60º so I’m inside baking and trying to stay warm.
I love the flavor twist in these granola bars. I make them a lot, but run into a tur of using the same nuts and fruit. Thanks for the new idea!
I’ve been looking for a good granola bar recipe and this definitely sounds like a winner. Thanks for sharing :)
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
I am all kinds of ready for spring, but now I can’t get summer off the mind! Or tropical granola bars. These look fabulous!
Ooo yum!
This is definitely my kind of recipe – looks good, tastes good, and is also good for you.
{Teffy’s Perks} X
Granola bars are a must have for storing in my bag for when I need a snack while out. I can’t wait to reach for one of these!
I love love love homemade granola bars! I never thought to add orange into the mix though. What a great addition. Thanks for sharing such a great recipe! Off to pin!
Thank you so much Justine! The orange really does add a special brightness, which I definitely appreciate when I’m having one for an early breakfast.
This granola is totally delicious and addicting. I’ve made several batches in the past three weeks. I’ve read the comments about adding orange but am confused about how to do so. Does that mean orange peel or juice perhaps?
Hi Marilyn! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review! I just overhauled the recipe and updated it so that is why you are seeing references to orange.
I’m intrigued by all these orange references. What did you do in the original recipe, please?
Hi Cassidy, there was orange juice and zest (plus a number of other ingredients) that was removed when I overhauled the recipe. Hope you enjoy the bars!
These look great – heading over to check out the recipe now!
Thanks so much Laura! If you enjoy tropical flavors like orange and coconut, I think you’d adore them :)
Hi, Erin, love the orange idea, I am in love with it already, thanks.
These turned out so good!!! I even messed up and didnt cook the oats and nuts before mixing everything together lol. I also forgot to heat the honey and peanut butter. Then I put them in the oven for 10 minutes. Will defenitely make them again!!!!
Hi Brianna! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Wow! This is a great recipe. My husband has a sweet tooth and I’m trying to find great tasting healthy alternatives for his after dinner snack. This fits the bill. I added dried cherries and baked them the full 20 minutes for a crunchier bar. Thanks so much for the recipe. It’s a keeper.
Hi Nancy! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
These are great! I’ve been experimenting and they are enjoyed by all. Has anyone figured out how to make them less crumbly? By the time we get to the last few, it is more or less granola. I’ve added more honey and PB but I don’t want to load them up too much? Any suggestions?
Glad you enjoyed them Jon! I haven’t had this problem before so it would be hard to say what went wrong without being in the kitchen with you.
This is a great recipe to jump off of! Leaves a bunch of room to alter the recipe without it going badly, and the simple ingredient list means you can intuitively mess with the oats/honey/PB ratio (I prefer less honey IMO- just not a fan. I just add a tiny bit less oats and a bit more PB). The pictures are very helpful to know what it’s supposed to look like!
I did take a few liberties with the recipe (steel cut oats instead of rolled, less honey, different mix-ins, etc) but they would have turned out horribly without this recipe to refer back to! Thank you for sharing, I’m definitely going to use this a lot!
Hi Livin Life! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Made these twice now. The most delcious and satisfying
Hi Dolores! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Just made these this morning and they are AMAZING. I like that they get baked. Very tasty. Thanks for the recipe!!!! I made them with a few modifications. instead of sunflower seeds I did a seed mix (pumpkins seeds, chia, flax). I added 1/4 cup honey and 1/4 cup maple syrup instead of all honey, and I used more vanilla, cinnamon and some nutmeg.
Hi Fiona! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Hi! Could I use only maple syrup instead of honey?
Hi Maude! Honey can be substituted with an equal amount of maple syrup or brown rice syrup. Enjoy!
Absolutely loved this recipe, made it two times both for a swim meet my siblings and I went to. Everyone loved them. Thank you!
Hi Minnie! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
These Healthy Granola bars are super simple to make and they smell delicious while baking.
I did wait the five minutes before adding the mini chocolate chips, but they still melted. That’s ok, I’m sure they’ll still taste good.
My only issue is that I wanted a crunchier bar and I baked them long enough, but they are still soft.
Having company tomorrow and we’ll put them to the test…..my guess is? It’s a winner!
Erin, I’m loving all the recipes I’ve tried. With weekend company Blueberry French Toast and Crockpot Breakfast Casserole are on the menu as well.
I’m so happy you’ve enjoyed my recipes, Edith! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
What substitutes will i have to make if I opt for less honey- 1/3 or 1/4 cup instead of 1/2 cup. It seems too sweet for me 😅
Hi Mayeesha! I’ve only tested the recipe as written, so you’d be experimenting if you decide to decrease the amount. You can also swap the honey for maple syrup or brown rice syrup if you prefer. I hope you enjoy them!
I was looking for a snack to take with us on a summer road trip. Tried these, and they turned out to be just what I was looking for! I loved the fact that I could use up odds and ends of things in my pantry. And they taste amazing! I’m already planning what combination of fruit and nuts I will be putting in my next batch.
I’m so happy that you enjoyed them, Sandy! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
healthy granola bars are delicious
I’m so happy that you enjoyed them, Marianne! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
I ran out of old fashioned oats and ordered the wrong one so now I only have quick cooking oats. Will these work?
Hi Nancy, no I don’t believe the quick cooking oats would work.
I thought for sure I had old fashioned oats in the pantry so I started making these, only to realize all I had was 1-minute quick oats. Made them anyway with the quick oats and they turned out great! Tasted amazing, held together well, texture was great!
That’s great to hear! Thank you Lindsay!
Thanks Erin! I’ve been looking for so long for a go to granola bar recipe and now I’ve found it! These tasted great, held together well and lots of flexibility with nuts/ mix ins. I cut mine into big squares rather than bars. Great recipe!
Hi Rachel! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Delicious. I would use less honey next time. Thank you.
Hi Susan! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
LOVE LOVE LOVE this! Found you can use other nut butters so long as they arent runny. Decreased honey to 1/4c and added about 1T maple syrup. Used 1/2 unsweetened coconut flakes and a total of a cup of chopped roasted nuts of choice. Added a handful of golden raisins. Skipped the salt in the “filling” and opted to grind pink Himalayan salt on top. Sprayed my “squisher paper” with GF nonstick spray and made for a stick-free squish as I would recommend really squishing this into pan. Youre a GENIUS! Hands down best granola bar recipe of its kind online (and, trust me, I’ve made, and tossed, many!). Keep it up!
Hi Renee! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review and feedback on modifications!
Flavor is great, but my bars were completely dry and crumbly. Ended up like a granola, not a granola bar.
I’m sorry you to hear had trouble with the recipe, Ann. I know it’s frustrating to try a new recipe and not have it turn out. I (and many other readers) have enjoyed them, so I really wish they would’ve been a hit for you too!
In answer to Ann’s “dry and crumbly” issue, I did try a version of this with 1/2c coconut oil melted and a “dry” sweetener like Stevia in the Raw or Monk Fruit granulated sugar in place of the honey (but kept the nut butter) and that version was a crumbly mess. I’ve also made a version “as written” but didnt squish it very well and it, too, was more dry as I think the heat got into the crevasses and dried it out. I also made a version with liquid low glycemic sweetener that wasnt gooey like honey and it was far drier, too. There is a difference in my results when using a more processed PB rather than a “natural” PB — the processed PB yields a chewier bar I have found. Length of baking time makes a difference, too. There’s no egg in the recipe so there isnt any worry of underbaking to maintain chewiness. Hope this helps others.
Thanks for the feedback Renee!
Not sure on baking temp, is it still 300*? Thanks
Hi Laura! This is mentioned in Step 1 of the recipe card. It’s starts at 325 then reduced to 300. Hope you enjoy it!
Thanks, I wasn’t sure, because it starts at 325* then says drop to 300*. Actually I baked them at 300* and turned out great! Then, they were so good, I made a second batch, same way. We’re heading on a trip, so I froze them and have them for breakfast! Thanks I used chopped peanuts 3/4 cup and dried cranberries- coconut- 17 minutes- perfect!
So glad you enjoyed them Laura!
Yessss great texture & flavor, easy to make. I made it exactly as the recipe said and they’re the perfect healthy snack to have on hand. Thank you!
Hi Kel! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I found your YouTube video and then checked out your page. These are great! I have made dozens over the last several months so still finding out how I like to make them (different nuts, dried fruit, etc) I make a batch for my in-laws as well and They take them to work or when they go RVing and share or keep it for themselves. Everyone loves them! Thanks for putting this recipe out there :)
Hi Brandon! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Can I use almond butter instead of peanut butter?
Yes you can, Nancy!
I made this nut free since I have a peanut allergy. This is very easy to make in no time and so delicious. I left out the nuts and added more sunflower seeds and coconut flakes along with substituting sunflower butter for peanut butter. Will be definitely keeping this recipe on hand to make double batches to freeze and take along in our motorhome when we travel.
Hi Anne! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review and feedback on substitutions!
Make sure you use processed peanut butter instead of anything healthy otherwise they’ll come out crumbly :( Pretty disappointing but maybe next time they’ll turn out. However, I can’t agree that these are “healthy” with 19g of sugar!! That’s almost the recommended daily amount! But I can see how they’d be tasty if made properly :)
Hi Alex! Sorry to hear about your results! I’m not sure if you saw what I said about using different nut butters. This was located under “TIP” The consistency of your bars will vary based on the brand of nut butter you use. If they seem too dry, add more peanut butter or honey; if they are too wet, add more oats one tablespoon at a time. Hope this helps for next time!
Really good recipe! I’m never buying store bought again. I swapped the quantity of peanut butter and honey and used chunky peanut butter, because that’s what I had in the pantry, and it worked out great. I recently bought some Nature Valley coconut trail mix bars and loved the intense coconut flavour, so next time I make this recipe I’m going to try using half vanilla and half coconut extract and see how it turns out. Thanks for the quality recipe!
Hi Katie! So glad the chunky peanut butter worked! Thank you for this kind review!
4-Stars for the taste! I followed the recipe with the exception of adding the coconut flakes…did not do that. Like I said, taste great but fall apart when you eat the treat. I baked them 15 minutes at 300 F. Wonder why they fall apart? Thx
I’m sorry to hear you had trouble with the recipe Tom. It’s hard to know what went wrong without being in the kitchen with you but the coconut does help bind them together so that is likely what caused them to fall apart.
These were easy and delicious…one of the best I’ve tried. I added a few dried cranberries and used walnuts, almonds and sunflower seeds. Organic peanut butter too
Hi Cathie! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Easy and the smell while baking is wonderful! I wanted a crunchier bar so I baked for 20 minutes at 300 degrees but they were still chewy. Next time I’ll try leaving the temp at 325.
Hi Gina! So glad you enjoyed the recipes! Thank you for this kind review!
what a waste of paper to print out this recipe. Give us one page!
Hi Susan! I’m sorry to hear you are having trouble. When hitting the print button for the recipe, you can remove all images, notes, and nutrition label. You also have the option to print in smaller font but even with the normal font size this would give you two pages. If you print on front and back then you only need one page. Hope this helps!
Just copy and paste (into Word) what text you need. This way you can avoid extra pages.
Thanks for the tip!
Erin,
I watched making Healthy Homemade Granola Bars on YouTube yesterday. But you did not give amounts of the ingredients for the coconut, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, pecans, honey, peanut butter, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon. Could you send me the amounts for the above mentioned ingredients?
Phyllis
Hi Phyllis, I think you are missing the recipe in the post. All of the ingredients are listed in the recipe card above the directions on how to make them. There is even a “jump to recipe” button to help navigate you there! Hope this helps!
Any alternative for coconut flakes? Thanks!
Hi Carro! I’ve only tested the recipe as written. and the coconut helps bind them so I am unsure of an alternative. Maybe more oats? If you decide to experiment with it, let me know how it goes! Hope you enjoy!
I love making these….I use dessicated coconut rather than flakes….still works
Hi Karan! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I’ve made these bars several times for my family and friends and everyone’s obsessed! These don’t last longer than two days (if I’m lucky) in my house! So simple and delicious :)
Hi Sarah! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Morning Erin
Fantastic and simple to follow recipe- I swapped out the PB for tahini and omitted the coconut and added sesame seeds instead. I also added in chopped dried fruit and no choc chips. These are my go to granola bars!! Thank you
PS will try cutting back just a bit on the maple syrup next time
Hi Scott! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Ooh, I bet flax seeds would work in the place of the sesame seeds for this version! I don’t like coconut, so I was looking thru here for alternatives.
Let us know how it turns out Theresa!
could you please post the ingredients in grams too? i keep finding conflicted information, some sites say 2 cups of oats is 180 grams, some say 160, some say 210. same with the peanut butter
Hi Angie! Unfortunately, I’m not able to provide metric measurements. There are several online conversion sites—one good one is from King Arthur! Here’s the link: https://www.kingarthurflour.com/learn/ingredient-weight-chart.
These were delicious and very east yo make. I’ll definitely make them again!
Hi Eva! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
On my second batch of these granola bars.
They are so good, and easy to make. Win Win.
Hi Shelly! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I feel like I missed an ingredient, mine did not stick together, fell apart when I cut them after they cooled. Any suggestions?
Hi Sally! I’m not sure why they would of fallen apart. Did you cut them first while they were still warm, then recut them after they cooled?
Just made these, they’re so good but a tad sweet for me, if I used just half the honey next time would the consistency be OK still?
Hi Erin, I’ve only tested the recipe as written so it would be hard for me to say for sure. If you decide to experiment with it, let me know how it goes! Hope you enjoy it!
What temperature do you cook the bars, 300 or 325. Thanks
Hi Dawn, want to make sure you are seeing the full recipe. The temperature starts at 325 then dropped to 300. Enjoy!
Can the honey be omitted or subbed for a low fructose option? We have fructose malabsorption and honey is high on the “foods to avoid” list unforgivably.
Hi Jenny! Honey can be substituted with an equal amount of maple syrup or brown rice syrup. Either of these sweeteners is also a great way to make the granola bars vegan.
I can’t wait to make these!!! For people who can’t use honey can date syrup be substituted? Also, lower in glucose.
I haven’t tried it myself, Thea but if you decide experiment with it, let me know how it goes! Hope you enjoy it!
These bars are delicious! I didn’t use any PB or nut butter substitute, I used a little extra honey and it was perfect. I also opted for a mixed seed variant for added nutrients and flavour. It all came together so nicely. It will be a new on hand snack from now on. I was quite worried when they first came out of oven and I cut them they started to fall apart a little. But by the time I came back and they had cooled and I cut them again they were completely solid. Thanks Erin for a great recipe
Great to hear! Thank you Aisling!
Hi, I never toasted oats or nuts before! Any tips or tricks?
Thanks!
Sue
Hi Sue, just make sure you give them a stir half way through and watch for it to look golden. Enjoy!
Hi sorry, I tried to comment but my computer froze so I hope this gets through. There’s a discrepancy in your temps in the recipe here. If you look to your pictures, in no 4 (just before you get to “storage tips” you write bake the bars at 300f. But then step 1 in instructions you say 325f. I think that’s why the questions in the comments about the temperature for baking. Can u fix that? Thanks.Sue
Hi Sue, there is no discrepancy, if you look at Step 2 it says to reduce the temperature to 300 and then bake. So you’ll preheat at 325, reduce and bake. Hope this helps!
This has really no sweet taste, I want a touch more sweetner. Mine turned out very crisp after 16 minutes, I will use it more like granola. I also found that the coconut browned too fast so I would add it half way. Also, the honey on the bottom and edges burned, Im not sure how to avoid that.
Hi Kathleen, maybe your oven runs a little hotter than mine? You might need to reduce the baking time some. The sweetness was a right balance for me, but you can probably adjust it to your needs.
These are in my opinion, the BEST granola bars I have ever tasted! And I’ve made many recipes for various types. Hands down the best. I did substitute maple syrup for honey, used only ground almonds, and added a quarter cup Goji berries. The amount of dark chocolate chips was dead on, and I usually tend to throw in a bit more but I found the amount specified perfect. Thank you for posting this :)))))
So glad you enjoyed it, Karen.
I love this recipe. I added some raisins and goji berries for energy. The little bit of salt makes a whole big difference. Will definitely make again.
Sounds tasty, thanks Lee-Ann!
They turned out rock hard :(
I had to throw them out.
I’m sorry to hear you had trouble, Jen. Did you see the note in the recipe on cook times? It sounds like they were overbaked. 20 minutes will yield crunchier bars; at 15 they will be slightly chewier.
Amazing taste, I’ve made these a couple times in the past month since finding this recipe. But how are they low sugar? Like, I realize each to their own as far as tweaking recipes for special diets goes, and I’m not even diabetic or anything, it just seems like 19g of sugar per bar isn’t actually low sugar. Again, these are delicious, 6 stars if I could, just seems a bit misleading to say in the initial description that they’re low sugar — honey is metabolized just the same as table sugar, even if, yes, it is *far* less processed/may have trace amounts of micronutrients. It’s still sugar though 🤷🏻♂️ I do really appreciate the recipe overall though, so thank you!
Hi Sam, storebought bars can contain three or four different forms of sugar. In these bars, you’ll find only natural honey. Glad you enjoyed them!
I have made these bars at least 10 times now. Im not buying packaged bars anymore. These taste better and there are no preservatives.
Im pre diabetic w hypertension so I use unsalted organic peanut butter, unsalted nuts, unsweetened no sugar chipits and coconut flakes , and put half honey and half maple sugar, to lessen sugar grams.
Sometimes I only use maple syrup, reducing sugar grams even more but they don’t stick together as well. I feel I have this recipe perfected now. I have made the mistake of thinking mixture was cool enough to add chipits, make sure pb mixture and oats have totally cooled before adding chipits. This is my favorite guilt free snack, they are delicious and very nutritious .
A++++++ recipe
Thank you Erin !
Makes me so happy to hear, thank you Maria!
To keep your bars from getting too gooey,try reducing your maple syrup a bit, first. It doesn’t take much, just bring it to a low simmer for a minute. Take it off the heat and let it cool before adding peanut butter.
Incidentally, if you let it cool all the way, you end up with fudge, and if you add cold chunks of butter instead of peanut butter, you get caramel. Use a tiny of heavy cream, and you get a smooth caramel sauce.
Thanks for the feedback, Joe!
Why no option for ingredients in metric when you put the nutritional values as metric
Hi! Unfortunately, I’m not able to provide metric measurements. There are several online conversion sites—one good one is from King Arthur! Here’s the link: https://www.kingarthurflour.com/learn/ingredient-weight-chart.
Just made your Healthy Granola Bars. Cut them into smaller portions so the calories count isn’t so high. My husband asked what I was baking as they smelled so good in the oven. Look forward to tasting them, they look great!!! Thank you Erin!
Great to hear, thank you Sheri!
Is there a good substitute for coconut flakes? We really dislike coconut. 🙃
Hi Leena, I’ve only tested the recipe as written and the coconut helps bind them so I am unsure of an alternative. Maybe more oats? Other readers have used sesame seeds and flax seeds. If you decide to experiment with it, let me know how it goes! Hope you enjoy!
I make these every week now…so good and healthy!!!
So glad to hear, thank you Maria!
Love, love, love this recipe!!
I made with honey the first time and it was a little too sweet so made the next batch with maple syrup as someone in the comments suggested, and it was perfect! Thank you Erin for this wonderful recipe. I will be bringing along on my weekend hikes!
Thanks Debra!
I love this recipe so much. Can I ask, if I was making these for a vegan, what could I use instead of honey that’s still good? Thank you.
Hi Clari, honey can be substituted with an equal amount of maple syrup or brown rice syrup. Enjoy!
I am going to try making these with date syrup which is a better choice for reduced glucose
Let us know how it goes, Thea!
Hi Erin! Great recipe but I cheated. I used granola I already had so skipped the first part and just added the heated peanut butter, honey, maple syrup (microwaved for 30 sec) and coconut flakes and baked in a toaster oven for 15 minutes at 300. Turned out great. Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it, Ronny!
This recipe didn’t work, it came out like Granola:(
I’m sorry to hear that you had trouble with the recipe, Eliana. The amounts, flavorings and timing have worked well for myself (and others) so I wished it would have been a hit for you too! I know it can be so disappointing to try a new recipe and it does not turn out for you.
How can I adjust the recipe so the ingredients bind together and they come out as bars and not granola?
Hi Deidra! This is how I tested the bar recipe so I can’t give an advice on how to adjust it. It’s important to use the right size baking pan. Use the exact amount of ingredients. Also make sure your honey and peanut butter are heated correctly and that you really press your mixture into your pan. I would also encourage you to watch the video and see if anything looks different than when you are making yours. Also all ovens are different so your bars might need a few minutes longer than mine did. Hope this helps!
I am wondering if you can omit the nut butter.. we have allergies
Hi Paula, I’m sorry, you’ll need something to help bind them together and that’s what the nut butter does. Some alternatives that might work, cookie butter, sun butter, granola butter. I haven’t tested any of these but they might work. Let us know if you try it!
This was my first time making my own granola bars and I am so happy with how these turned out! I used a mix of pecans and almonds for my nuts, and a blend of cranberries and raisins in place of chocolate chips. I baked for 17 minutes. I can’t imagine buying granola bars ever again! These were so delicious, easy to make, and my 2 and 4 year olds loved them. It will be fun to experiment with different nuts and add-ins. I’m so glad I found this recipe – thank you, Erin!
Thank you Keeley!
This is a great bar. Everyone enjoyed it. I have made them 3 times now. Because honey is not good for IBS I used half maple syrup and honey. The second time I made these, I tried cutting the honey/maple syrup in half. That didn’t work, but it did result in yummy granola:)
I am back to full sweet and they hold together perfectly.
I would like to cut the carbs down. Any options for less sweet, but still holding together?
Glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Donna. Honey can be substituted with an equal amount of maple syrup or brown rice syrup. Hope this helps!
We love chocolate chips in granola bars but was wandering how to prevent them from melting after they go in the oven? Should I put them in after they come out of oven?
Hi Nancy, let them completely cool before removing. Also you could pop it in the refrigerator for a few minutes to see if that helps you. Thanks!
Hello, I just made the recipe today but the mixture was extremely dry. I think I should have cooked the peanut butter on low heat as the peanut butter looked like a hard rock. It really taste delicious though and will devour with a glass of milk. Thank you
Hi Audrey, glad you were still able to enjoy them! The peanut butter mixture definitely needs to be more syrup like. You’re really only heating the honey and peanut butter together until smooth. Hope this helps!
hey what is a subsitute for peanut butter? or can i use just honey as the binding agent?
thanks
Hi tee, you can use almond butter. Hope this helps!
I would make this recipe again
Thank you Linda!
These are great! I toast tge nuts and oats longer and add another 1/4 cup peanut butter but I also do more nuts so they are delicious. im actually addicted to these. Cool mix 15 minutes before adding chips. 5 and 10 min doesn’t cut it it.
Thank you Laura!
I followed the recipe making sure the measurements were correct because I wanted bars and not granola. I pressed the batter down firmly and baked for 15 minutes. The results were bars so I was very pleased. I will make two changes next time. The mini chips melted so I will use regular chocolate chips and cut way back on the honey. This was too sweet for me. Otherwise a good recipe.
Thank you Karen!
I’m not much of a cook, but I found these very easy to make and they turned out great. I won’t be buying anymore flapjacks as we call them in the UK. Thanks for the recipe there great.
So happy to hear, thank you Graham!
I love your recipes but must say that the web site is becoming unusable. It is impossible to read the recipe because of the pop ups advertising new content. Please don’t make us keep seeing the same ads for (currently back to school recipes) over and over. Just now I tried to scroll down to leave my name and email and it popped up AGAIN.
Thanks for letting us know, Heidi. It actually shouldn’t do that. If the problem continues, please let us know.
Ive been trying to find a good granola recipe as a base with a good seed and nut mixture without added sugar, and these were exactly what I was looking for! Alterations I made were for the nuts half almonds half walnuts, the peanut butter I used costco’s kirkland creamy almond butter, the spice I used pumpkin spice, and instead of vanilla extract I used almond extract. I pulsed the nuts a couple of times in a food processor to break them up. I sprayed a pyrex pan and didn’t even need the Parchment paper. These are an excellent, wholesome snack or quick breakfast. Next time I might try shelled pumpkin seeds instead of sunflower.
Yay! Thanks Althea!
Taste is good but very strong of peanut butter and it fell apart. I followed all measurements exactly. Cooked for 15 minutes so it was chewy. I think it needs more binding.
Hi Amanda, you are definitely going to get a peanut butter flavor with these bars at it is the main binder. The consistency of your bars will vary based on the brand of nut butter you use. If they seem too dry, add more nut butter or honey; if they are too wet, add more oats one tablespoon at a time. Hope this helps!
Why does your recipe not contain a nutritional value for sodium?
Hi Dawn, I stopped including sodium info because it can vary so much depending upon what products you used, and I found a lot of conflicting info online, so ultimately I didn’t feel comfortable publishing it because sometimes it wasn’t even in the ballpark. If you’d like to calculate it yourself, there are lots of free tools online (myfitnesspal.com is popular). I hope that helps!
These are absolutely amazing. I did add a few Craisins, but other than that, I wouldn’t change a thing except use a larger dish.
So glad to hear you enjoyed them, Jennifer! They look fantastic!
I made these and they were a hit with the whole family. I followed the directions as is using dark chocolate and chopped cherries for my mix-ins. I wish I had made a double batch. They taste so fresh and the right amount of sweet/salty balance. Making again this week!
Great to hear, thank you Kristie!
This is my absolute ‘go to’ recipe that I make every couple of weeks!
I store some in the cupboard and the rest in the freezer! Thank you for a fab recipe x
Great to hear, thank you Amanda!
These are AMAZING!!! I used roasted and salted cashews, raw pistachios, and roasted and salted almonds. Instead of PB and honey, I used Soom Tahini and maple syrup – kept the measurements the same. I left out seeds and the coconut flakes. I added mini chocolate chips and raisins. I think I did about 1 tsp of cinnamon. They are AMAZING and will be on repeat weekly! I was trying to clear out my pantry and I’m shook at how delicious they turned out. I am very impressed. They’d be good with less maple syrup, probably 1/3 cup is enough but YUM!
Delish! Thank you Julie!
Love being able to make my own granola bars vs store bought. These taste so good and love the crunch! Kids also love which is the true test!
So glad to hear! Thank you, Lindsay!
This worked exactly as written, thanks!
Yay! Thanks Kerry!
Hi Erin,
First time making granola bars, made these with my son absolutely fantastic flavour just had my first bite incredible, don’t think this double potion will last long, and no more shop bought ever again.
Thanks,
Huw
P.S. the reason bits are missing from the sides is, we couldn’t help ourselves.
These look great Huw! So glad you enjoyed them!
Hello, which is the best and most natural brand of peanut butter? Just concerned that some peanut butters contain other ingredients would you use smooth or crunchy?
Hi Joanna, we use SKIPPY Natural Creamy Peanut Butter but I have not done research on the best and most natural brand. Also we use creamy. Let us know how it goes!
These are so AWESEOM!! Thank you for the recipe. I have made three batches so far and everyone loves them. They came together easily and are delicious. Gives me energy throughout the day.
Yay! So glad to hear, Cindy!
I would make this recipe again
Great to hear! Thank you Katrina!
Everything sounds great nut I’m not a peanut butter or nut butter fan. Could something else be substituted or some other ingredient doubled?
Hi Audrey, unfortunately these bars need the nut butter to bind the other ingredients together. You could try sunflower seed butter. Hope this helps!
I make these for every family road trip! Delicious, and keeps us all full for hours!
Yay! So glad to hear, Danielle!
Made this last night. I misread the recipe and used 1/2 cup of peanut butter instead of 1/4 cup and they were still amazing. I only had steel cut oats and maybe the fine texture holds the bars together more? They were not super crumbly. It is so nice to actually make something like this from scratch rather than pull it out of a box that is sitting on a shelf forever. Thanks Erin another easy and delicious recipe!
So happy it all still worked out for you, Molly! Homemade for the win!
I have tried this many times with different combinations of nuts, seeds and fruit. It works great – thanks! My fav so far is sesame seed and dark chocolate with walnuts and pistachios. I swapped half of the pb with tahini and added sesame seeds.
Making the recipe might be easier if the ingredients were also listed in grams in parentheses (kinda like The Joy of Cooking does). For example: 2 cups (162 g) Old Fashioned Oats, 1/2 C (170 g) Honey, 1/3 c (76 g) Peanut Butter, etc.. I always have to look the weight in grams up for each one as I use my food scale. (I should just write them down but I am lazy :P)
So glad you enjoyed it, Sam! Unfortunately, I’m not able to provide metric measurements. There are several online conversion sites—one good one is from King Arthur! Here’s the link: https://www.kingarthurflour.com/learn/ingredient-weight-chart. Hope this helps!
Great recipe! I used agave instead of honey and added cranberries it was so good.
Great to hear, Janet! So glad it worked!
I made the healthy granola bars chewy and they are awesome. Tweaked the recipe a little, but still turned out great. Surprised even my husband like them. But FYI, with cooling completely in the pan with the parchment paper, the paper stuck to the bars. I had a heck of a time peeling off all the parchment that stuck. I tried heating them again and it was still a task getting it off. Thanking for the recipe.
Glad they turned out well for you, Pam! Thank you!
Easy and quick! This is now my go-to granola bar recipe, thank you! I toasted @ 325 for 14 mins and 325 for 20 mins, still perfectly chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside, love the texture! I used almond butter instead of peanut butter, I left out the coconut flakes and cinnamon. I added walnuts, pecans and pepitas, and for the fruit I added chopped dried mango, dried goji berries, and dried dragon fruit. Next time, I’ll add some chia seeds too. Such a good recipe!
Yay! Thank you for the feedback, Susan!
I would make this recipe again, tasted good when I licked the spoon before putting in the oven. Can’t wait to try them when they’re cooled. I will say I waited more than five minutes to put in the chocolate chips and they still melted. So I ended up sprinkling a bit more on top and spread it out to make a thin chocolate layer on top.
Glad you enjoyed them, Jessica! Thank you!
I made these and used sunflower butter instead of peanut butter & pumpkin seeds instead of sunflower seeds. I added in dried cranberries. They came out great! I like knowing that there is no added junk ingredients in these and the ability to change up the add-ins in many variations. Thank you.
So glad that it worked well for you, Vinessa! Thank you!
9 grams of sugar in each bar is 4 and 3/4 tsp of sugar in each bar. Isn’t that alot? If I used sugar free syrup would that help with the sugar amount? And maybe sugar free chocolate chips?
Hi Laurie, I haven’t tested it that way but it might work. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to know how it goes!
Taste amazing! I tripled it and used a 1/2 sheet pan with sides. Pineapple and apple (dried). Also, a tip from another pastry chef… use a fondant smoother to press down and even out the bars before baking. So much easier
Glad you enjoyed them! Thank you!
How long did you bake them?
I’d love advice on how to successfully add chia seeds to these granola bars – they look great! (Do I need to alter anything?)
Also – has anyone tried liquid allulose (RxSugar) instead of honey?
Hi Julie, the mix-in possibilities are endless! You could either substitute the chia seeds for the chocolate chips or add add some in with the chocolate chips. I’d just stick to 1/3 cup of mix-ins. Enjoy!
So glad I found this recipe! This is EXACTLY what I have been looking for! I doubled the recipe, and used a jelly roll pan to make 20 bars. I didn’t have enough honey, so I used a mix of honey, agave nectar, and pure maple syrup. I used organic, no sugar added dried fruit for the mix ins. So so so good! Even my picky husband loves them. Thanks so much!
So happy to hear, Kim! Thank you!
I made these to take camping and they were great!
So glad to hear, Barbara! Thank you!
These were fantastic! Everybody in my family enjoyed them, kids and husband alike. They are versatile and freezer friendly. Even only eating a small one, they are very filling.
So glad to hear, thank you Lea!
I made these last night and they were delicious!
Many Thanks for this amazing recipe!
So glad to hear, Anna! Thank you!
I have made these 8 or 10 times. I love them. I haven’t made any modifications.
So glad you are enjoying the bars, Christine! Thank you!
I made these to take camping and they were definitely a hit. I used peanut butter and peanuts for the protein with some dried cranberry and raisins. Everyone loves them. I plan to make them again next time using other nuts and almond butter. Thanks for this great recipe.
So glad to hear, Barbara! Thank you!