Imagine yourself eating your favorite granola…
Now imagine eating your favorite granola… in the form of a granola bar! Nature Valley Granola Bars… Do you know the ones I’m talking about?
Those crunchy bars in the green wrappers? My friend Sarah calls them “horse food” because they’re made up of oats and sugar—things that horses like to eat. But the following granola bar recipe is much too good to share with horses. Sorry, horses.
Soccer Fuel
When I was in high school (it seems like a lifetime ago!), I played on the varsity soccer team, and our daily practices fell right after school. So I got in the habit of grabbing a bar—often a Nature Valley granola bar—to munch in the locker room while dressing out.
I’d completely forgotten about my past with Nature Valley until a few days ago, when I tasted an attempt at what was supposed to be a chewy granola bar.
“Woah, these taste exactly like Nature Valley oats-n-honey bars,” my roommate proclaimed after trying a bite. “Except, maybe these are even better!” (She quickly proceeded to eat two whole bars.)
Nature Valley Granola Bars Recipe
Category: Healthy & Gluten-Free Recipes
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/4 cup rice crispies (I used brown rice crispies)
- 3 tbsp oat flour (You can make your own by grinding oats in a food processor*.)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp coconut oil or veg oil
- 3 tbsp agave or other liquid sweetener
- 1 packet stevia (or 1 tbsp dry sweetener)
Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine dry ingredients, then mix in wet. Transfer to a 7×5 baking dish (lined with parchment paper), and press down. Squish HARD. Hard hard hard. Then cook for around 18 minutes. Wait at least 20 minutes before trying to cut into bars. *If making oat flour, measure the 3tbsp after grinding.
Other bars I’ve done:
I made these and they are by far the best home-made granola bar I’ve made! My son loves them! I have a couple questions – what size pan did you bake yours in? I used an 8 in round cake pan (my 8 inch square was in use) and baked for 18 min and they turned out very brown and almost over-done. I’m going to reduce the time for the next batch but was just curious what size you were using – maybe mine are coming out a lot thinner so they’re baking faster. Also, if adding raisins and mini chocolate chips would you increase the amount of wet ingredients to help them stick together? I added both and they are a bit crumbly so I’m assuming I should increase the wet ingredients. Would you increase the oil or the sweetener or a little bit of both?
I think, if I remember correctly, I used a 7×4 for this recipe, since it makes a small batch.
I really can’t know how any additions or modifications will work until I try. Sorry I can’t be more helpful on that! :-?.
Hey, I tried this recipe and it was terrible!
The granola bars, made GRANOLA not bars. They did not stick together at all. I followed the directions exactly.
I baked for around 18 min, and put the exact amount of oil, and other liquids that would allow it to stick, but as i took it out of the over, I accidentally turned it over, and everything spilt, this wouldn’t have happened if this recipe wasn’t so bad!
Any tips on why, or what to do next time!
I’ve found you have to wait for them to cool and the wait a bit longer and then they are fine! Bur really wait!
okay thanks!
I might try that next time, if i want to make them again!
First of all, I really don’t think it’s nice that you have to say “if this recipe wasn’t so bad!” 🙁
Many people have made the recipe and didn’t have a problem, so the odds are more likely you accidentally mis-measured something, or you used a specific product or brand that threw something off.
I stand by all of my recipes 100%.
Can you please tell me more about the specific ingredients you used, how you pressed down (and how hard), and how long you waited before turning it over?
climate could be the issue. W/different weather – temp & humidity this could cause the bars to have a different crunchiness. I’ve been having this problem with biscotti lately, so I assume it could happen with granola bars as well.
The recipe isn’t bad. I’ve made it twice now and they’ve come out perfectly both times. As bars, not granola. Sounds like you did something wrong.
agave is a type of thick sweetner like___ Honey__ can be a used in the place of it
bb if the agave is not in it or Honey its not going to stick together——-Anonymous is doglady521c
Just made this and it’s gorgeous! I did 1 – 1/2 times the recipe as I didn’t have a tin small enough. I used a crushed (chocolate covered) rice cake instead of rice crispies because I didn’t have any. And I had to add a extra 2tsp of oil and a tbsp of honey so it got to something I thought would stick together. I also added some dark chocolate, dried cherries, dried apricots and dried goji berries for extra yummyness and vitamins.
It didn’t turn out as crispy as the nature valley bars – probably because a) it’s still warm and b) the amount of honey I used but for me that is a good thing as I find the nature valley ones verge a little on the dangerously crispy side. It almost came out like a flapjack (english oat tray bake – not a pancake), and again that is good for me, I like flapjacks 🙂
Forgot to add, It came out of the tin perfectly, silicone tin that I sprayed with olive oil before hand. Sliced up well too. It’s important to wait until it’s cool before taking out of the tin & cutting. And to cut on a completely flat surface like a chopping board not on a cooling rack.
I have never tried a flapjack! But when you mentioned them, I googled… and now I really want to :).
oh they’re so good! The flavour options are pretty much endless with them too! And I’d expect they’d be pretty easy to veganise.
I made them and they are delicious!! The best bars that I’ve tried! They turned out really crunchy! Love that!!
I also made them with protein powder (love!!) and with pb..and with apple extract and cinnamon…well..they’re all delicious!! 🙂
Do these need to be refrigerated? I am going camping and this would make an awesome snack.
Nope! 🙂
I made these yesterday! I used brown sugar instead of stevia, and honey instead of agave. I read some reviews and used whey protein instead of oat flour. I didn’t love the added protein, I could really taste it (not in a good way). But other than that, these were delicious! Great texture and super easy. Next time I won’t be lazy and I’ll grind the oats. 🙂 I also was surprised at how dry the mixture was, but it still really held together well. This one is a keeper!
homemade belivita breakfast biscuits 🙂
Did you use an 8-inch baking dish for these?
I actually used a 7×5 if I remember correctly. Sorry for the confusion; I should probably write that in there! I’m going to fix my post right now.
Thanks!