White chocolate and cranberry granola bars are the perfect grab-and-go snack, and they are so simple to make at the beginning of the week to have on the go all week long.

I love a granola bar because it's packed with nutrients and vitamins, and these ones taste indulgent even though they're full of nutritious ingredients!

Cranberry White Chocolate Granola Bars

I love making a big batch of granola bars at the start of the week so that my family has a healthy, homemade snack option as we run around to school, errands, and extracurricular activities. They are tasty and feel almost like an indulgent snack (thanks, white chocolate!), but they really have nourishing ingredients that fuel me and my kids as we hustle and bustle from place to place.

They're also a great option to bring hiking, on a picnic, or to a play date when you and the kids just need a bite of something to hold you over until the next meal. I love throwing them into packed lunches, too! Really, the options are unlimited, and with how easy they are to make, it's a no brainer if you ask me. If you want them to be a little less sweet, but still delicious, just skip the white chocolate drizzle. The honey and cranberries lend lots of natural sweetness -- the white chocolate is just a fun topping!

How do you get granola bars to stick together?

Honey is the binding agent in these bars, and when melted and mixed with the other ingredients, it creates a sticky combination that holds the bars together as they bake.

What is the healthiest granola bar for you?

I happen to think homemade granola bars are always ideal and best for you because you know precisely what's in them. If you start looking at ingredient lists for store-bought bars, you might be surprised to see some additives and other ingredients you've never heard of and probably don't want to feed your family.

How are granola bars made?

Granola bars are made by melting together your binding ingredients, mixing it with the dry ingredients, baking the mixture on a rimmed baking sheet, and letting them cool slightly so you can cut them into the shapes of bars. For extra fun, I melt white chocolate and drizzle it over top of the finished and cooled bars!

Can you freeze granola bars?

You can! Just place them in a freezer-safe baggie or container, and freeze for up to 4 months. Let them thaw at room temperature for an hour to enjoy them!

White Chocolate and Craisin Granola Bars

★★★★★

5 from 1 review

Author: Melissa Griffiths - Bless this Mess
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 16 1x

Print Recipe

Description

Simple & sweet these easy homemade granola bars are perfect for breakfast or on the go snacking.

Ingredients

Scale

6 tablespoons butter
¾ cup brown sugar
¼ cup honey
⅓ cup milk
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup dried sweetened cranberries (Craisins) or dried sweet cherries
1 teaspoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
3 cups crispy rice cereal
4 ounces or ½ cup white chocolate

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Instructions

In a medium sauce pan over medium heat add the butter and cook until melted.
Add the brown sugar, honey, milk, salt, and dried cranberries to the melted butter and stir to combine.
Let the mixture come to a boil and boil for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Take the pan off the heat and add vanilla and cinnamon.
In a large bowl add the oats and crispy rice cereal and then pour the cooked mixture over the top. Stir until well combined.
Dump the mixture onto one side of a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Press the mixture into the pan using the greased bottom of a measuring cup.
The finished bars will take up about ⅔ of the pan and be about ¾ of an inch thick. Allow the bars to cool and set for at least an hour.
After the bars have had time to cool, place them and the parchment paper they are still on, on a cutting board.
Cut into bars using a sharp knife, but leave them close together (see pictures below).
Melt the white chocolate in a mug over high heat in the microwave until smooth, stirring often.
Drizzle the chocolate evenly over all of the bars. Allow the chocolate to cool and set for at least an hour.
When the chocolate is set, cut the bars again with a sharp knife in the same places you cut before. Gobble them up or store in an air-tight container for later.

Notes

I like to re-hydrate and plump up dried fruits before I eat them in something like this, so I boiled them in the sugar/butter mixture to soften them. If you like your Craisins chewy and more firm don't boil them and just add them to the cereal/oat mixture.
This is a great recipe to add anything too! Throw some nuts, flax, or wheat germ into the cereal/oat mixture; the possibilities are endless.
The bars firmed up as they sat overnight, uncovered. So if they are a bit soft, just leave them out overnight.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Snacks, Granola Bars
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: homemade granola bars, granola bars with oatmeal, easy granola bars recipe, white chocolate granola bar

More granola bar recipes:

This post was originally published in 2012, and has been updated and rephotographed in October 2019.

You'll love these simple and quick cranberry white chocolate granola bars for busy days when you and your family need a quick bite, and they are so tasty with pure and clean ingredients!

Comments

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Rebecca Milec

December 28, 2020 at 5:11 pm

Are these supposed to be baked? The text mentions baking but the recipe doesn’t? They did not stick together at all - did I miss that?0

Bernice Virkler

April 22, 2020 at 10:54 pm

The kids loved them!

★★★★★

Carrie Burrill

November 16, 2012 at 4:50 am

I need to make more granola bars more often! These look awesome Melissa!

Abby

November 14, 2012 at 11:29 pm

the thought of adding craisins to granola bars didn't even cross my mind! such a great idea! 😀
-Abeer @ http://www.cakewhiz.com

Suzanne

November 12, 2012 at 5:25 pm

I make granola bars or something similar each week for our morning teas at work and this one looks like it might need to be made too.

Patty

November 06, 2012 at 10:44 am

These do look delicious! I will make a batch of these for my grandkids, thanks;-)

Paula Montenegro

November 06, 2012 at 3:06 am

This is a great twist on granola bars! Impossible to resist after a hike for sure! Wonderful pics!

gottagetbaked.com

November 05, 2012 at 11:33 pm

Wow, your granola bars looks perfect! I love the drizzle of white chocolate over top. I've collected so many granola recipes and have yet to make any of them. Yours is going to the top of my must-make list!

www.you-made-that.com

November 05, 2012 at 9:07 pm

Great granola bars, I will have to make these asap!

Lizzy Do

November 05, 2012 at 11:51 am

I'm so glad you got home in time to share these amazing granola bars...who could resist??? Not me!

Summer P.

November 05, 2012 at 10:48 am

I love this! I've been wanting to make granola bars but every time I see recipes they have a million strange ingreadients I don't buy. These are simple and I have everything here already! Love it

Erin

November 05, 2012 at 9:29 am

Vacations are always great, but getting back is so much work! Hope you had a great time.
These granola bars look wonderful. What a great idea of the ingredients this month!

Joan Hayes

November 05, 2012 at 9:12 am

This sounds wonderful and right now my kids are on a granola kick so this is great timing! Can't wait to make up a batch of theses bars!