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The Best Chewy, Naturally Sweetened Homemade Granola Bars

A close-up view of a chewy homemade granola bar held in hand, showing oats, almonds, and pumpkin seeds.
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Make chewy, wholesome homemade granola bars using natural sweeteners. This easy recipe is perfect for a healthy snack or breakfast on the go and allows for many add-ins.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 1 cup mixed nuts (almonds, pecans), roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup mixed seeds (pumpkin, sunflower)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup smooth nut butter (peanut or almond)
  • 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup mix-ins (e.g., dried fruit, mini chocolate chips)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats, chopped nuts, and seeds. Mix these dry ingredients well.
  3. In a separate, smaller saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, gently warm the maple syrup, nut butter, and melted coconut oil until smooth and easily combined. Do not boil.
  4. Remove the wet mixture from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
  5. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients. Stir everything together until the oats and nuts are evenly coated.
  6. Fold in your chosen mix-ins, such as dried fruit or chocolate chips.
  7. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking pan. Press the mixture down firmly and evenly into the pan using the back of a spatula or another piece of parchment paper. Pack it tightly for better bar structure.
  8. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown.
  9. Remove from the oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. This cooling step is crucial for chewy texture.
  10. Once fully cooled, lift the bars out using the parchment overhang and cut them into 12 to 16 bars.

Notes

  • For a gluten free granola bars recipe, use certified gluten-free rolled oats.
  • To make this a no bake granola bars version, skip the baking step. Press the mixture firmly into the pan and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before cutting.
  • If you want copycat granola bars texture, press the mixture very tightly and consider reducing the maple syrup by one tablespoon.
  • These make ahead breakfast bars store well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingbycarla.com/homemade-granola-bars-recipe/