How To Make These Granola Bars Without Oats
Using a large flake-like cereal is mandatory, otherwise, your snack bars will fall apart.
I used gluten-free rolled oats, which also ensured a thick, chewy and hearty texture. Avoid using quick oats or steel cut oats.
If you cannot tolerate rolled oats, you can substitute it for quinoa flakes or buckwheat flakes.
Homemade Vegan Granola Bars
This portable gluten free and vegan granola bars recipe was originally published back in 2012, but has since gotten a photo and content update and was worth giving some new love!
These granola bars are super easy to make, nutrition packed, and absolutely delicious.
Make a batch of these vegan and gluten free granola bars to keep on hand for the week. Or better yet, double the recipe and freeze half for later! They make excellent travel buddies or cubicle buddies. ð
Easy Homemade Granola Bars 12 Varieties
Granola bars are one of those snacks that everyone loves. There are plenty of brands that make great granola bars, but nothing compares to these easy homemade ones! Theyre so fresh and flavorful, and you can make them exactly how you like them.
You can enjoy these bars for breakfast, as a pre-workout snack, in a packed lunch or really whenever!
There are lots of baked and no-bake options here, and some of the granola bar variations can be made either way. Each recipe is gluten-free and refined sugar free, and there are also some delicious options for vegan, nut-free, low-carb/keto and completely sugar-free granola bars!
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Sea Salt Chocolate Paleo Granola Bars Recipe: The Taste
If youre seriously in need of a shake-up in your healthy snack routine, or just find it unbelievably hard to, uh, find, a vegan + paleo granola bar recipe look no further than my sea salt chocolate paleo granola bars!
Theyre the perfect combo of salty & sweet. TheTaste: chewy, soft grain-free& oat free granola bars that are packed with satisfying nuts, nutrient-rich seeds and creamy almond butter. These perfect paleo granola bars are drizzled in rich, dark paleo chocolate& topped with a delicious sprinkling of sea salt.
Ingredients For Homemade Nut
- Pumpkin seed butter: important sticky ingredient, but also adds lots of healthy fats and extra plant protein.
- Vegan milk: adds moisture to the rolled oats, which helps the bars hold together after baked.
- Maple syrup: acts as a binder, but also sweetens the bars in a healthy way.
- Vanilla extract: brings amazing flavor in these bars.
- Rolled oats: bulk ingredient, adds lots of fiber to the bars plus a nice chewy texture.
- Pumpkin seeds: they add a crunch and extra nutrition.
- Chia seeds: once soaked in the milk, they swell and help the bars stick together. Also add lots of healthy omega-3 and fiber.
- Dried cranberries, dark chocolate chips: yum!
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Faq + Tips For The Best Soft Granola Bars
WATCH THE BOILING TIME. You really want to follow the directions and let the mixture boil 3-4 minutes before pouring it into your oatmeal mixture. If you boil it less, they may not hold together as well. If you boil it too long, the mixture may be thicker, and the granola bars will end up more dry and hard.
PACK THEM TIGHTLY. The other important tip for perfectly soft, chewy granola bars is to pack them as tightly as you can. The more densely you can pack them into your container, the better theyll stay together as they cool. If you dont pat them down at all, theyre more likely to fall apart when you pick them up. If you pack them down, you shouldnt have any trouble slicing them into bars or squares once theyve set.
HOW TO STORE HOMEMADE GRANOLA BARS. We store our soft granola bars in a zip-top bag in the refrigerator or freezer after slicing them. The less air exposure, the softer theyll stay. Theyll keep for 4-5 days in the fridge and about a month in the freezer.
GLUTEN FREE NOTES. If youre gluten free, be sure youre using certified gluten free oats and certified gluten free crisp rice cereal. Neither oats nor crisp rice contain wheat gluten themselves, but theyre often processed or grown in ways that can cause cross-contamination. Certified GF is the way to go if youre intolerant!
Ingredients For Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
- Quick cooking/instant oats: You must use the instant here, it is what helps these bars bind together. If you use regular oats, they will fall apart and be dry!
- Almond flour: Since these are oil-free, we need moisture. This provides moisture and an extra layer of fat, which Im all about getting those extra calories into my growing child.
- Oat flour: I love the health benefits of oats and using oat flour helps to bind these bars as well as giving extra fiber and healthy nutrients.
- Flaxseed: Packed with omega 3 heart-healthy fats, I love sneaking in flaxseed into recipes for my daughter. You cant taste it and it helps to make these bars healthier, while also really giving them structure since they perform similarly to eggs.
- Maple syrup: Sweetened with syrup instead of sugar for amazing flavor and a little bit healthier.
- Roasted Almond butter: This helps give a buttery flavor to the bars instead of using oil or butter, as well as giving amazing flavor.
- Cinnamon: For extra boost of flavor.
- Chocolate chips: I used Enjoy Life dairy-free semi-sweet chocolate chips, but feel free to use any dairy-free you like. I like the mini because they stay in the bars a bit better.
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Vegan Fruit And Nut Bars With Granola Recipe
This super simple gluten free vegan fruit and nut bars with granola recipe is packed full of fruit, nuts and filled to the brim with vitamins and nutrients. Skip the store bought granola bars and make your own at home.
Ive had granola and granola bars on the mind lately.
When we were in Croatia I became obsessed with granola. We bought a bag of fruit granola in the local grocery store and I simply couldnt get enough of the crunchy texture and would find myself slowly gravitating towards the bag of granola all day long until it was simply gone.
I pretty much almost cried when I found out that D has finished the rest of the granola without warning me and therefore I was not mentally prepared to dip my hand into an empty bag.
Heartbreak.
So when I got home and was catching up with one of my closest friends and she happened to mention that we should make granola bars I jumped at the chance.
Yes please. Got to love friend time, which happened to be combined with a bit of cooking and a whole lot of white wine sipping.
Oh the things I have missed while D and I have been traveling.
And so the two of us set out to make our very own set of home made gluten free vegan fruit and nut bars with granola. Though Ive made gluten free and vegan raw larabars before this was indeed my first baked granola bar experience.
While the mix at first resembled bird food the finished product was just perfect. Crunchy, healthy, yet just with the slightest hint of sweetness.
Okay But What Are They Like
Like eating an oatmeal cookie, but in bar form.
Theyre soft, chewy, hearty, sweet, and super satisfying. And the best part is that you can customize them based on whatever it is that you might be craving at the time. I made these ones with a basic raisin + chocolate combo, but I also really love:
- cranberries + pumpkin seeds + chocolate
- 1/2 cup add-ins
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
I am always up for getting in the kitchen and creating healthy recipes for you and your crew to enjoy! One of my most FAVORITE types of recipes to create is healthy bars- around here, we love healthy peanut butter oatmeal breakfast bars and keto low carb granola bars, but I got to thinking that we need another VEGAN bar recipe to add to the list. So join me in welcoming homemade vegan granola bars to the club! They are chewy, they are flavorful, they are PERFECTLY sweet and they are made with better-for-you ingredients that you will feel good about.
Simple Ingredients For The Best Homemade Paleo Granola Bars
I made sure to pack the best homemade paleo granola bars recipe with the best ingredients! Check out the benefits of the ingredients below.
Nuts: many readers have asked, so Im here with the answer to, What exact amount & type of nuts do you use? While you can use whatever nuts youd like in these paleo granola bars, I like to stick to 1/3 cup almonds, 1/3 cup pecans and 1/3 cup walnuts. I used roasted almonds, and raw pecans and walnuts.
Raw Coconut Chips: my favorite way to keep my paleo recipes grain free! These coconut chips keep the carbs down, and the flavor nice and high. What more could you want?
Pumpkin Seeds& Golden Ground Flaxseed: these paleo granola bars are packed with a whopping ¼ cup of ground flaxseed and a ¼ cup of pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds & flaxseed provide heart-healthy nutrients, are high in antioxidants and packed with minerals that are good for you.
Coconut Oil& Almond Butter: two of my favorite healthy fat ingredients! Coconut oil is my favorite way to avoid using dairy products such as butter and shortening. Coconut oil helps keep you full longer, has healthy fatty acids that can increase good cholesterol in your blood, and can help with brain function. Almond butter is full of minerals and good fats that are good for you!
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The Taste & Texture: Grain Free Granola Bars Recipe
Speaking of taste, I know youre dying to hear what these yummy homemade paleo granola bars taste like. These grain free granola bars are just slightlysoft & chewy with a crispy exterior. They pack the most delicious nutty crunch, which is coated in the sweetness and most incredible aroma of pure maple syrup and just a touch of coconut sugar. You wont believe how satisfying these paleo granola bars arebursting with healthy ingredients that keep you full for longer.
Healthy Granola Bars With Simple Ingredients
The 6 basic ingredients youll need for these bars are:
- Oats
- Nuts and seeds
- Dried fruit
- Coconut oil
- Nut butter
- Maple syrup
I add almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, dried cranberries, and goji berries but feel free to use your favorite nuts, seeds, and dried fruits. Whether hazelnuts, cashews, pecans, pistachios, sunflower seeds, pepitas, or hemp seeds anything will do!
Regarding dried fruit, I prefer tart, slightly sweet and sour berries in these granola bars because they are rich in vitamin C and balance out the sweet flavor of the maple syrup. However, you can most likely also use cherries, raisins, figs, apricots, dates, plums, etc. Just make sure to chop them finely with a sharp knife before mixing with the rest.
Ive also added a bit of vanilla extract and cinnamon for flavor but thats just optional.
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What Kind Of Oats To Use
You really want to be using a thicker kind of oats to make these bars. Look for either old-fashioned or rolled oats and avoid quick cooking oats.
Thicker oats will soak the moisture better to create a bar that holds well plus provides more interesting texture. I used the rolled oats from Bob’s Red Mill. Also, use a certified gluten-free oats if necessary.
Best Tools For This Homemade Paleo Granola Bar Recipe
- Granola Bar Pan: the funny thing is, I tested this paleo granola bar recipe so many timesonce in an 8-inch square pan, once in the granola bar pan, once again in the 8-inch, then again in the granola bar pan. Then, repeat. Lol. Time and time again, Erik and I preferred the paleo granola bars made in the granola bar pan. They take a little longer to prepas youll have to fill in the crevices & pack in the mixturebut that extra 5-7 minutes is totally worth it. You get the crispiest, most delightful edges. I felt more like I was eating a decadent dessert than a healthy paleo snack.
- Raw Coconut Chips: I actually snack on these! Of course, I would also find a way to sneak them into my paleo recipe, too! Youll be blown away by how generous the coconut chips are in size, taste and aroma.
- Recommended Tools: Granola Bar Pan | my Favorite Small Prep Bowls | Silicone Spatulas | Glass Mixing Bowls | My Favorite Kitchen Timer!
Are you soooo ready to make some scrumptious homemade paleo granola bars or what? Lets do it! Ill grab the dry ingredients, you grab the wet! Be sure to let me know if youve made this recipe in the comments below. I love hearing from you. Im truly so grateful to share in the kitchen moments with you and your loved ones. Til the next baking adventure
Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter
Did you make this homemade paleo granola bar recipe? Take a pic and share it on with the hashtag #beamingbaker& tag . Id love to see it!
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Three: Form Granola Bars
- Line an 8×8 or 7×11 pan with parchment or wax paper.
- Add the oats mixture to the pan and using either moistened hands or wax paper (to keep the mixture from sticking to your fingers, spread out as evenly as possible.
- Place in the freezer for 5-10 minutes or the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes to solidify.
- Slice into bars and enjoy or store.
Ingredients For Homemade Granola Bars:
Peanut Butter. I love me some peanut butter, but you can sub in any nut or seed butter here. Tahini, almond butter, or sunflower seed butter are great options!
Sweetener. I use agave nectar but honey or maple syrup works too! I havent tried this recipe with a granular sweetener, but I think it should work!
Oats. I used gluten free rolled oats, but other kind of oats should be fine! I think steel cut oats would be a bit too thick, but quick oats or instant oats should be fine.
Chocolate Chips. I love semi-sweet chocolate chips, but you can use milk chocolate, white chocolate, peanut butter chips, whatever you like!
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Tips For Making The Best Granola Bars
Coconut oil or vegan butter is solid when chilled and helps keep the bars together. Ive already tested this recipe with just applesauce and banana instead of oil which worked, too. However, I personally found the coconut oil version much better. If you try this recipe with peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter, let me know how it turned out because I havent tested it yet.
Use sticky syrup! Be sure to use a thick and sticky syrup like agave, maple, or rice syrup because it helps to keep the bars together. If youre not vegan you can probably also use honey but I do not recommend using any other sweetener.
Press firmly! Its really important to press the granola mixture into the pan very firmly! The harder and longer you press, the less chance youll end up with granola instead of granola bars.
Bake or no-bake! I recommend baking these granola bars for the delicious roasting flavor and extra crunch but you can also enjoy them as a chewy no-bake snack. Simply refrigerate the granola mixture a few hours until its completely set. Then lift out of the baking pan and slice into bars. Also, be sure to keep them in the fridge as they will soften at room temperature.
Chill! Whether you bake your granola bars or not, be sure to chill the granola mixture for at least 2 hours. This hardens everything and makes it easier to cut the gluten-free granola mixture into bars.
