These easy and homemade healthy granola bars are packed with rolled oats, crispy cereal, and mini chocolate chips!
Super Healthy Granola Bars
Back in 2012, when I first posted a recipe for homemade chewy granola bars, I had no idea it would still be so popular five years later, with over 28,000 repins and twelve pages of positive reader reviews.
Even the best recipes can be improved upon, and today I’m sharing my updated version of the classic granola bar recipe, complete with six new flavor variations.
The recipe makes double the amount of the original. I also fixed up the photos and added a few new ones as well. This is one of those recipes that’s withstood the test of time. Five years later, readers are still making it!
Also Try These Vegan Brownies – NO Crazy Ingredients
These homemade granola bars have slightly better nutrition facts than store-bought Quaker Chewy Granola Bars, but–more importantly–they have a MUCH shorter and cleaner ingredient list!
How To Make The Healthy Granola Bars:
Stir together all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk liquid ingredients together in a separate bowl, then stir wet into dry.
Transfer the granola bar mixture to a pan lined with parchment paper, and press down as firmly as you can.
Either bake in a preheated oven for 18 minutes OR simply chill until firm, then slice – there is no baking required!
Healthy Granola Bar Flavors:
- Chocolate Chip Granola Bars: Stir 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips in with the dry ingredients.
- Oatmeal Raisin Granola Bars: Stir 1/2 cup chopped raisins and 1/2 tsp cinnamon in with the dry ingredients.
- Nutella Granola Bars: Replace the oil with my Healthy Nutella, and add mini chocolate chips and chopped hazelnuts if desired.
- Vanilla Almond Granola Bars: Stir 1/3 cup finely chopped almonds in with the dry ingredients, and add a few drops pure almond extract to the liquid ingredients.
- Trail Mix Granola Bars: Stir 1/4 cup each chia seeds, shredded coconut, and chopped, dried cranberries in with the dry ingredients.
- Peanut Butter Cookie Granola Bars: Replace the oil with 1/4 cup peanut butter or nut butter of choice.
Edit: and now there is a pumpkin version!
Healthy Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup rice crispies (brown, white, or gluten-free)
- 3/4 cup oat flour, or process oats in a blender to make your own
- 1/4 cup melted coconut or vegetable oil OR nut butter of choice
- 1/2 cup raw agave or honey
- 1/4 cup brown sugar OR 1/8 tsp pure stevia
- 1/4 cup applesauce or mashed banana
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- Variations: see flavor list under the third photo in this post
Instructions
- Line an 8-inch pan with parchment paper. Set aside. If you wish to bake the bars, preheat oven to 350 F. Stir together all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk liquid ingredients together in a separate bowl, then stir wet into dry. Transfer to the prepared pan. Smooth down firmly, using a second sheet of parchment or wax paper. Press down as hard as you can. For no-bake healthy granola bars, chill until firm. (The no-bake option is also firmer if you use coconut oil.) For baked granola bars, cook on the center rack 18 minutes, then press down firmly again. Let cool completely before cutting into bars. View Nutrition Facts
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These look great I am going to make the original as well as some of the other variations. We have lots of homemade applesauce. My husband will enjoy them for snacks when he goes in the field combining corn. My preschooler and I will just enjoy them at home and for homeschool field trips.
Hi, are rolled oats old fashion or quick oats. Sorry for my ignorance 🙁
They’re old fashioned 🙂 You’re ignorance is fine! It can be confusing.
I plan to make a large batch of these this weekend! My son is in kindergarten now and needs a lunch and two snacks everyday. I’m running out of food to send! Would the baked ones hold up better in a lunchbox than the chilled version?
Yes, I’d definitely recommend going with the baked version in that case 🙂
These are in the oven now! I can’t believe I never tried your original version. He wanted peanut butter chocolate chip, and my samples were amazing!! Will definitely make again!
these look so yummy….what size pan should we use? it doesn’t say!
So strange, could have sworn I’d written it in! Sorry about that – the pan should be an 8×8.
You did, says 8 inch pan plain as day!
Hey C.C.Katie, just curious to know if the bars in the picture are baked or chilled? They look delicious either way 🙂
Baked!
Hi Katie,
These bars look really delicious…by the way, wondering what camera and lens you use for your blog posts?
I have a Canon T2i Rebel (as of at least 5 years, I think…). Currently, I shoot mostly with an f/2.8 100mm macro lens, but the first photo in this post was actually shot using the kit lens.
These look really good and I want to try them! I have a question –under “To Make The Healthy Granola Bars” it says to bake for 28 minutes. In the recipe part, it says to bake 18 minutes and then press down firmly. So I’m not sure how long to bake! Thanks.
18 is correct 🙂
Made these earlier and they came out amazing!!
I used one mashed, over ripe banana, coconut oil, shredded coconut and chopped raisins. No sugar but instead a dash of Trader Joe’s dried Stevia (very potent).
I went for the no bake version.
Didn’t have any rice crispies cereal left so I actually used GF Cheerios and it worked.
The bars taste like honey and coconut and melt in your mouth! Very rich. A total winner.
Could you substitute maple syrup for the agave or honey? 😀
I substituted maple syrup for 1/2 of the honey and they turned out great.
Do you think I could bake up a few batches and freeze them for later? I get time to make things like this about once a month.
I freeze EVERYTHING. So, of course. Why not?!
Ah, these look AMAZING beyond words! I used to LOVE those Quaker granola bars, but these look (and probably taste) even better!
Look so nice. I will try to cook it.
What is the best way to store these? I’d like to make a big batch for my 4 kids for the week.
Refrigerated if using coconut oil in the no-bake version. Otherwise they can stay at room temperature.
Is there any substitution for the cereal? We don’t eat any. Maybe shredded coconut?
You can definitely experiment and be sure to report back if you do!
Baking soda? Or baking powder?
Hello Katie just came across your recipes they are really good especially eggless. I have to learn to use pin it and try making them. Thank you