Baked Granola Bars Recipe - Homemade Snack Made 4 Ways (2024)

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I’ve got an easy recipe for baked granola bars for you here. They are so easy to make and actually cheaper than store-bought versions. And you can make them 4 ways…

Homemade Granola Bars

There are so many benefits to making your own granola bars at home. For starters, you get to control the ingredients. This means you can avoid all of the processed junk that’s found in most store-bought bars and make something that’s actually good for you. Plus, it’s a great way to use up any leftover nuts, seeds, and dried fruit you have hanging around. And let’s be honest, homemade always tastes better than store-bought.

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But the best reason to make your own granola bars is that it’s so easy! This recipe only requires a few simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. Plus, it comes together in just minutes. We pack these for school lunches and road trips, eat them for a quick breakfast and as a quick snack.

Granny’s Recipe for Granola Bars

Today, there recipe I’m sharing with you is from my neighbor’s mother who we affectionately call Granny. We love her like one of the family. Since we don’t live near family, it’s nice to have someone nearby like her. And she’s always making goodies like biscotti, Danish sandwiches, and these granola bars.

What makes a good granola bar?

A good granola bar should hold together well and be packed with flavor. It should also be relatively healthy, with a good balance of fiber, protein, and healthy fats. And it’s always nice if they’re a bit sweet, but not too sweet. This recipe hits all those marks and they’re held together with honey.

A good granola bar is made better when you can customize it to your liking. For example, you might want to add in a bit more honey or some extra nuts and seeds. You can also get creative with the flavors by adding in some spices like cinnamon or nutmeg. The possibilities are endless, so have fun with it!

I’ll include four of our favorite mix in combinations after the basic recipe, but feel free to get creative and come up with your own.

Granny’s Baked Granola Bar Recipe

Basic Granola Bar Ingredients

1 1/3 stick butter, softened
1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
4 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
2 tsp ground flaxseed(optional)
1/2 to 1 cup mix ins (seeds, chopped nuts, dried fruits, etc.)

Mix ins Ingredients

Chopped nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts, peanuts, etc.)
Seeds (pumpkin seeds, sunflower, hemp, chia seeds, etc)
Dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, apricots, mano, pineapple, strawberry, etc)
Coconut flakes
Banana chips (chopped is best)
Chocolate chips or chunks
Spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, etc)

Tip: I’ve found that when chopping nuts and seeds for this recipe, using a food processor makes the process much easier. Just a few pulses is usually all it takes.

Favorite Mix In Bar Combinations

Cranberry Almond Bars: 1/2 cup whole almonds, chopped + 1/2 cup dried cranberries (substitute almond extract for vanilla extract)
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars: 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter + 1 cup chocolate chips or chunks (almond butter can also be used)
Pumpkin Spice Bars: 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice mix + 1 cup roasted pumpkin seeds
Chocolate Coconut Bars: 1/2 cup coconut flakes + 1/2 cup chocolate chips or chunks

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How to Make Baked Granola Bars

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Cream together the butter, brown sugar, and honey. Add in the vanilla extract.
In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients – flour, groundflax seed (optional),and baking soda.
Add the oat mixture gradually to the creamed butter mixture. Add the oats, chopped nuts, seed, and dried fruit (whatever combination you are using) until incorporated. Everything should hold together but not be too sticky or wet.
Pour the the granola bar mixture onto a parchment paper lined or greased 9×13baking sheet and press down the mixture into an even, single layer. You want the mixture to be compacted, so it will stick together.
Bake at 325 degrees F for 20 minutes or until the top is a light golden brown.
Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan.Once cooled, divide into bars and store in an airtight container.
For a prettier presentation or for gifts, you can wrap individually with parchment or waxed paper. Enjoy!

Yield: 16 bars

Baked Granola Bars

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

This recipe only requires a few simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. Plus, it comes together in just minutes. We pack these for school lunches and road trips, eat them for breakfast and as a quick snack.

Ingredients

1 1/3 stick butter, softened
1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
4 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
2 tsp ground flaxseed (optional)
1/2 to 1 cup mix ins (seeds, chopped nuts, dried fruits, etc.)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Cream together the butter, brown sugar, and honey. Add in the vanilla extract.
In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients - flour, groundflax seed (optional),and baking soda.
Add the oat mixture gradually to the creamed butter mixture.
Add the oats, chopped nuts, seed, and dried fruit (whatever combination you are using) until incorporated. Everything should hold together but not be too sticky or wet.
Pour the the granola bar mixture onto a parchment paper lined or greased 9x13baking sheet and press down the mixture into an even, single layer. You want the mixture to be compacted, so it will stick together.
Bake at 325 degrees F for 20 minutes or until the top is a light golden brown.
Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan.
Once cooled, divide into bars and store in an airtight container.

Notes

Favorite Mix In Bar Combinations
Cranberry Almond Bars: 1/2 cup whole almonds, chopped + 1/2 cup dried cranberries (substitute almond extract for vanilla extract)
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars: 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter + 1 cup chocolate chips or chunks (almond butter can also be used)
Pumpkin Spice Bars: 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice mix + 1 cup roasted pumpkin seeds
Chocolate Coconut Bars: 1/2 cup coconut flakes + 1/2 cup chocolate chips or chunks

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 231Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 142mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 3gSugar: 13gProtein: 4g

Did you make this recipe?

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Commonly Asked Questions

Here I want to take the opportunity to answer some commonly asked questions when it comes to baking granola bars.

How do I get my granola bars to stick together?

There are a few key ingredients that help to bind everything together. The butter, honey, and brown sugar all work together to create a sticky base. The flour helps to absorb some of the moisture and also binds everything together. And the oats act as a binder as well. If your mixture seems too wet, you can add a bit more flour, oats, or even some ground flaxseed.

Another important tip is to make sure you press the mixture into the pan firmly. This will help everything to stick together better. Once it’s baked, you can use a flat object (like a spatula) to lightly press down on the bars again. This will help them to stick together even more.

Can I substitute the butter for something else?

Yes, you can use margarine or coconut oil in place of the butter. Just keep in mind that the flavor will be slightly different.

Can I use quick oats instead of old-fashioned oats?

Yes, you can use quick oats instead of old-fashioned oats.

Can I use a different type of flour?

Yes, you can experiment with different types of flour. Just keep in mind that the texture might be slightly different. For example, using whole wheat flour will make the bars more dense. You can also make these into gluten-free granola bars with a gluten-free flour and oats.

Should granola be crunchy when it comes out of the oven?

Yes, the granola should be crunchy when it comes out of the oven. If it’s not, it means that you either need to bake it for longer or at a higher temperature.

Is it cost-effective to make your own granola bars?

Yes, it is cost-effective to make your own healthy granola bars versus store-bought granola bars.. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also know exactly what ingredients are going into them.

When it comes to baking, buying in bulk can be cost effective. This is because you can get a lot of the ingredients you need at a lower price. I buy my oats, flour, honey, and other baking goods in bullk at Sam’s Club. This helps save money in the long run.

What’s the shelf life of homemade granola bars?

Homemade granola bars will last for about 2 weeks when stored in an airtight container. They do not need to be refrigerated and can be stored a room temperature.

Can I freeze homemade granola bars?

Yes, you can freeze homemade granola bars. Just make sure to wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. They will last for up to 3 months in the freezer.

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