Healthy Homemade Granola Bars
on Jan 04, 2020, Updated Mar 12, 2024
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These healthy granola bars are a perfect on-the-go snack for busy days, and they come together easily for stress-free, nutritious snacking for the whole family!
Easy Homemade Granola Bars
My 4-year-old recently helped me make the most delicious and easiest-ever healthy granola bars. They’re full of simple, nourishing ingredients and come together so fast for snacking made easy (even on the go!). Plus, they are nut and dairy free, no bake, and easy to add all kinds of additions to (like nuts, dry fruit, or chocolate chips — my kids’ favorite).
I love, love, love having homemade granola bars on hand because it makes grabbing a healthy snack or fueling up between meals super simple for my whole family. I like to give them to my kids after school or between activities for a tasty bite that will keep them full. You’ll never believe (or get over) how easily these granola bars come together for a great snack for the whole family all week long!
Which granola bars are the healthiest?
I always happen to think homemade anything, including granola bars, is better than store-bought options because there’s no added chemicals or preservatives or other things you don’t want in it when you make it at home. These are very healthy and filling, and they’re made with natural sweeteners, oats, coconut oil, and flax meal.
What’s in homemade granola bars?
These homemade granola bars are simple and have nutritious ingredients, including honey, coconut oil, coconut sugar, vanilla, salt, flax meal, and oats. You can also add optional mix-ins, like dried fruit, nuts, chocolate chips, or shredded coconut.
How do you store homemade granola bars?
Store granola bars in the fridge in an airtight container, separated by parchment paper. They also freeze great for long term storage. They are fine to have in lunch boxes though without keeping them cold, the fridge just helps them to last longer!
Healthy Homemade Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons flax meal, ground flax seeds
- 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup mix-ins*, optional
Instructions
- Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper so that it hangs over the sides (you can also use foil — just be sure to give it a spray of cooking spray), and set aside.
- Add the honey, coconut oil, and coconut sugar to a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the oil melts and the sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally. Bring to a light bubbly simmer, and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Remove the pan from the heat, add the vanilla and salt, and stir to combine.
- Add the flax meal, and stir to combine.
- Add the oats and any extras you’d like, and stir to combine.
- Place all of the oat mixture in the prepared pan. Use a rubber spatula or the bottom of a greased measuring cup to press the mixture firmly into the pan (press it well — this will help the bars stick together when cut).
- If you are adding chocolate, wait about 15 minutes for the mixture to cool a bit before adding the chocolate to the top of the bar, and press the chocolate firmly into the bars with the bottom of a measuring cup.
- Chill the granola bars in fridge for at least 1 hour.
- Lift the bars from the pan using the edges of the foil or parchment, and place them on a cutting board. Cut into desired shape/sizes and serve.
- Extras are best stored in the fridge with layers of parchment paper in between them.
Notes
- *Mix-ins are so fun, and you can add so many things. Feel free to add nuts, shredded coconut, dried fruit, and even chocolate. You have lots and lots of options. No more than 1/2 cup of mix-in’s. Too many and they won’t stick together as well.
- My favorite flavor combo is a dash of cinnamon when you add the vanilla, and then stir in chopped pecans, dried blueberries, and a little shredded coconut.
- My kids love these bars with mini chocolate chips sprinkled on top.
- If you don’t have flax meal, just replace it with more oats. It does help the bars stick together, though, and adds some great nutrition.
- You can add a scoop of collagen peptides or other protein powder to these when you add the oats if you like.
- You can double this recipe and place it in a 9×13 inch pan or you can put a single batch in a 9×9 pan, they’ll just be a bit thinner.
Nutrition
Try These Easy Granola Bar Recipes
- White Chocolate and Craisin Granola Bars
- 8 Easy Homemade Granola Recipes
- Crunchy Oat and Honey Granola Bars
- 4 Ingredient Peanut Butter Honey Granola Bars (no bake)
- The Best Chocolate Chip Granola Bar Recipe
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Granola Bars
Healthy homemade granola bars are a perfect no-bake snack that are quick and easy to make for simple, on-the-go refueling for the whole family!
I am on a low fat diet due to gallbladder issues. Instead of the coconut oil, could I use peanut butter (made from powdered peanut butter and water)? Thank you in advance.
Just made these yesterday, and my little and I LOVE them. I used regular sugar because that’s what I had. Looking forward to trying the coconut sugar. We used chia seeds instead of flax (that’s what we had) and used walnuts as a mix in. Tasted like a Christmas treat while still giving us some protein.
Thanks so much for sharing this recipe!