Are you looking for a good granola bar recipe?
This recipe won’t disappoint.
These delightfully chewy granola bars include all the goodness of everyone’s favorite Quaker granola bars, but without the corn syrup, refined sugar, and long list of artificial ingredients. So if you’re looking for a good granola bar recipe…
It’s staring you in the face. 🙂
Unless you are extremely tall or your computer is low to the ground.
Then it’s staring you in the belly button.
It even looks like a face. See the eyes and the nose? Those would be made out of chocolate chips. Yes, a chocolate chip face.
Are you jealous?
I am!
Oh, to live life with a chocolate chip face…
Quaker Style Chewy Granola Bars
(Can be gluten-free)
- 1 cup rolled oats (for all substitution notes, see nutrition link below)
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 cup rice crispies (brown, white, or gluten-free)
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp oat flour (see recipe instructions below for an easy substitution) 55g
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp coconut oil or veg oil (See nutrition link below for notes on a fat-free version.)
- 1/4 cup agave (Honey will also work, but not for strict vegans.)
- 1-2 packs stevia (up to 1/16 tsp uncut) or 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar or extra liquid sweetener
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp applesauce (banana would probably work as well, or pumpkin!)
- Ideas for the add-ins: mini chocolate chips, chopped raisins or other dried fruit, shredded coconut, chopped walnuts, etc.
Unless you’re doing the no-bake option, preheat oven to 350 F. Combine all dry ingredients and mix very well. (If you don’t have oat flour: simply grind rolled oats in a food processor to make oat flour. Be sure to measure the correct amount of flour for the recipe after grinding, not before.) In a separate bowl, combine wet ingredients. Stir wet into dry and use another sheet of parchment (or wax) paper to squish evenly-coated mixture into a parchment-lined 7×5 pan (or double the recipe for a bigger pan). Squish very, very hard, with a can or something heavy. Either fridge until firm (the no-bake option is firmer if you use coconut oil), or cook 18 minutes, then squish very hard again. Cool in the fridge for at least ten minutes before cutting into bars.
These bars can be stored at room temp, but if you use coconut oil they’re best kept in the fridge. Or they can even be frozen. The bars thaw very well. Other homemade granola bar recipes:
(Click on the photos to see the recipes.)
Do you wish you were taller?
Or shorter? Or are you happy exactly the way you are? I’m 5’5, and I always wanted to be taller when I was growing up. But now I actually like my average height. My grandpa used to say that you’re tall enough as long as your feet touch the ground. How are grandparents so wise? 🙂
I just wanted to pop by and say “you totally rock” and keep up the awesomeness!!!!
I’m 4’8″ and I always wish I was taller. I mean, not that much taller, I wish I were at least 5’0″ since it’s hard to find clothes that fit right but you play the cards you were dealt. Plus kids clothes and shoes are cheaper. The only thing that stinks is that I have to watch everything that I eat because a 5 lb gain on me is a lot different than a 5 lb gain on a tall person!
As soon as this recipe hit my inbox I knew I had to make them. They were delicious, didn’t even have a chance to refrigerate them after baking and the husband had already eaten half. I didn’t use sugar and was nervous about the flavor but they were still great! Thanks for another awesome recipe!
Hi Katie,
This looks like a great recipe, thank you for posting it! Sorry to bother you with a question as I realise you’re very busy following yesterday’s post, but just wanted to ask whether you have ever tried making granola bars for yourself without agave/honey/syrup and whether the liquid sweetener acts as a binder as well as a sweetener? In other words, if I were to omit the agave/honey, do you think I’d need to replace it with something else to help bind the oats together? I don’t really eat sugar (or agave, honey, etc) and can’t stand the taste of stevia so have grown used to things not tasting sweet, but I’m wondering whether granola bars need something syrup-ey for binding? I was thinking of trying to make them with extra coconut oil instead (as I’m addicted to the stuff!) but just thought I’d check first if you’ve got any advice.
Thanks! 🙂
I’m sorry that I can’t offer you any help, Åsa. Though, I just wanted to say that I’m in the same boat as you; I almost never consume any added sugars but was always curious to try things such as homemade granola. Since I’m pretty sure that it needs some sort of sticky sweet thing to bind it together, I’ve never tried out any recipes.
The only thing I could think of would be maybe to add in equal parts nut/seed butter? I know it’s not quite the same sticky texture, but most nut/seed butters tend to be fairly hearty. Especially if, like me, you pour out the separated oil instead of stirring it back in. I do that with my almond butter and it’s awesome and thick and I swear it tastes like cheese, lol. Anyway, sorry for such a long post! If you or anyone else comes up with a nice substitution, I’d love to know as well!
oh goodness, well i’m 5’11” so i’ve basically spent my whole life wishing i was shorter (like my friends, who can wear killer heels and still be shorter or the same height as me). i’ve always been taller than EVERYONE. and by everyone, i mean my mom’s entire side of the family, men included (save for one cousin). in fact, i’m taller than most people’s entire family’s that i know. at the age of 26, i finally like being tall, except for the fact that my boyfriend is shorter than me–something i swore i’d never let happen, as shallow as it sounds. i would never break up with him over it because i love him so much, but it does make me feel a lot less…feminine? i guess that’s the right word. so i’ve become pretty impressive at slouching. also, finding flats to dress up in is no easy task! are there no tall designers? lol. i know everyone says to “own your height” or some variation on that, but i have a hard time believing those people would want to be 6’4″ (in heels or otherwise) as a girl. there’s a line, i think. sometimes i just wish i could get all dressed up in heels, go out with my boyfriend, and be shorter than him. but there really are worse things. okay, okay. perspective…
also these granola bars look phenomenal. 🙂 lol.
I’m only 5′ 0″ so I would LOVE to be taller. The sad thing is, my twin brother is 6′ 4″!! That’s just not fair. He got his tallness from our grandfathers and I’m short like our grandmothers.
Hi Katie.
I just found this blog when I was looking for a vegan Greek yogurt recipe. Thank you so much for all the time you put into this. I just got a Blendtec, and have been looking for vegan blender ice cream recipes – your Volume Ice Cream is exactly what I am looking for, and I can’t wait to try the Agar Agar Whipped Cream! (Can you tell I’m into creamy things right now?) I just subscribed, and am so excited to have found the perfect site for me (vegan on Weight Watchers with a killer sweet tooth)!
Aw thank you so much, Errin!
I hope you like the ice cream… I’m big into creamy desserts too. You’ll probably never find a potato chip recipe on my blog ;).
Oh, and by the way, I also shared your site with a fellow Weight Watcher who just got a Vitamix for Mother’s Day – I hope she enjoys that Spinach Ice Cream!
I’m 5’8″ and have always wanted to be taller (like my aunt who was a model) or shorter so I could be small and “cute.” But these days I’m happy with my height, especially since I can reach tall shelves!
I am 5’1” and always wished to be a few inches taller. Now I have a tall husband {6’1”} who helps me get things from the top shelf. 🙂
Thanks for the granola bar recipe—loved them! They’ll come in handy as a snack on the golf course tomorrow. My height is 5’5″ & pretty happy with that.