Three: Firmly Press Into A Baking Tin Bake And Then Let Cool Completely
Just make sure to line your tin with parchment paper, otherwise youll be in a very sticky situation. You only need to bake the bars for 5 to 8 minutes, but dont skip this step. If you do, they will fall apart and be sticky notice a theme here?
Also, please note that the recipe makes one 9×9 baking tin of granola bars. If you want to make more than one flavor, you can divide the base mixture in half, then use two separate 9×4.5 bread loaf pans instead it works just as well!
Two: Process Granola Bars
It is best to use a food processor to make quick work of preparing the granola bars. The sharp blades with quickly break down the softened dates and easily combine them with the remaining ingredients.
- Once the dates have soaked, drain off the soaking liquid and place them into a food processor fitted with an s-blade. Process the dates until nearly fully broken down and a thick paste forms.
- To the date mixture, add nut butter, maple syrup, melted coconut oil, and salt and process until creamy.
- Add in oats and pulse until combined. You don’t want to fully break down the oats, just combine them evenly into the granola bar mixture.
- At this time if using add-ins, stir them into the granola bar mixture.
How Can I Store Granola Bars
If you dont want to freeze them to enjoy later, then you have the option of keeping them either in your refrigerator or in your pantry. We do also recommend wrapping them individually in parchment paper to avoid them sticking together and to avoid moisture getting in and make them soggy. If you place them in your pantry, they can last for a couple of weeks and up to a month in the refrigerator. Enjoy!
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How To Make Granola Bars
Check out this step-by-step guide first, and then find the full recipe with exact measurements at the bottom of this post!
Step 1: Make the granola mixture
Start to add the oats, almonds, and walnuts into the bowl of a food processor. Process until finely chopped, then transfer the mixture into a large bowl.
Next, chop the dried goji berries and cranberries with a sharp knife. Heat the coconut oil and maple syrup in a saucepan and simmer for a couple of minutes. Stir in the nut butter , salt, and vanilla extract.
Add the chopped fruits, chia seeds, and cinnamon to the oat nut mixture. Pour in the oil syrup mixture and mix everything well together.
Step 2: Press the granola mixture into the pan
Transfer the granola mixture into an 8×8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper. Place a piece of parchment paper on top and press firmly into an even layer, using the bottom of another square baking dish or measuring cup or bowl. The firmer you press, the better the bars will stick together!
Step 3: Bake, then chill and cut!
Bake the granola bars for 20-25 minutes in a preheated oven until crunchy . Once done baking, allow to cool to room temperature. Then transfer to the refrigerator and chill for at least 2 hours. Finally, lift the granola block out of the baking pan using the parchment overhang and slice into bars using a sharp knife.
Are Granola Bars Healthy
I generally dont like to categorize individual foods as healthy or unhealthy. Instead, I believe eating a balanced diet that mainly consists of whole, natural foods is more important than scrutinizing individual meals and ingredients.
That being said, the recipe for these pumpkin granola bars contains wholesome ingredients. As with any treat, they shouldnt be the main part of your diet. Dont forget to eat your veggies, too!
Also Check: Gluten Free Peanut Butter Granola Bars
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 Bobs Red Mill. Also, use a certified gluten-free oats if necessary.
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
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Vegan Chewy Granola Bars Recipe
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.
This post is sponsored by One Degree Organics.
I cant really remember a school lunch day where I didnt have a granola bar tucked away inside my lunchbox. Those chewy, golden, and sweet bars sustained many a playground adventure in my childhood, and I look back on them fondly. Unfortunately, those popular store-bought bars are full of dairy, wheat, and refined sugars all of which I try to avoid or limit in my daily diet.
Today Im going to show you how you can make your own granola bars, all from the comfort of your own home! This recipe requires only 5 basic ingredients, but tastes just like those childhood bars I adored.
Like I said, all youll need to make this recipe is:
- Granulated Sweetener
- and a Nut or Seed Butter, to help bind things together.
I opted to use my favorite Sprouted Quick Oats and Sprouted Brown Rice Crisps from One Degree Organicsfor this recipe not only do these products digest better in my body, but they are also certified organic, gluten-free, and help support farmers committed tocompletely vegan practices. Head on over to their site to learn more, or stay tuned for some granola bar goodness
Best Grain Free Granola Bars
Enjoy Grain Free Granola Bars made with less than 10-ingredients! These protein-packed, crunchy granola bars are gluten-free, vegan, oil-free, naturally sweetened, and filled with superfood nuts and seeds! Simply combine the ingredients and place these no-bake granola bars in the fridge or freezer to firm! They are the perfect, chewy, crunchy snack!
Youre probably wondering, Why Grain Free Granola Bars?. Well, after sharing my Grain-Free Granola Recipe, it quickly became popular! I decided to take the granola recipe one step further and make grain-free granola bars! I enjoy store-bought grain-free granola bars like Autumns Gold Grain Free granola bars. However, I wholeheartedly believe nothing beats making your food from scratch at home especially when it comes to these granola bars!
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Granola Bar Recipe With 8 Ingredients
You can prep these homemade no-bake granola bars in 15 minutes. They contain only 8 ingredients, and you dont even need a blender or food processor to make them. In fact, they are so easy to make and dont require baking, which means the bars can be enjoyed raw.
I ordered 5 ingredients from iHerb and I couldnt be happier about the products, as they are the perfect ingredients for this granola bar recipe. In the following photo, you can see all the products which I ordered.
My favorite product is the Go Raw Coco Crunch. Its basically sprouted granola and can be eaten on its own as a snack or enjoyed as muesli with plant-based milk. The ingredients are: Sprouted buckwheat groats, sprouted sunflower seeds, dates, sprouted sesame seeds, coconut , hemp seeds, cacao, vanilla extract, Celtic sea salt. I love that its fully raw and refined sugar-free.
My overall shopping experience with iHerb was very good, the ordering process was smooth, my order was shipped the very same day and arrived earlier than expected. iHerb carries over 5,000 Grocery Items which can be shipped to over 160 countries. iHerb is furthermore a Google Trusted Store and their Customer Service team provides support in 10 different languages. As a new customer, you can
More Healthy Snack Recipes
- Homemade Larabars–If you are looking for a grain-free granola bar recipe, or just love larabars, this DIY version will save you money just like these granola bars.
- Homemade Gogurts–Simple, wholesome, and FUN! This copycat recipe is one recipe kids love.
- PB Oat Bars–Made with only 3 ingredients, these no-bake snack bars taste like dessert, yet are naturally sweetened and packed with whole grains.
- Instant Pot Yogurt–Control the level of sugar and additives with this 2-ingredient homemade yogurt.
- Easy Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups–Just like these granola bars, homemade fruit roll-ups are much better for you and are surprisingly easy to make at home.
These granola bars make a great treat for kids to enjoy at any time! I hope that you give them a try for your own family and be sure to leave a comment below.
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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
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How Do I Store These Granola Bars
These granola bars are great for meal prep. So, if you want to make a big batch that you will eat throughout the week, I recommend that you store the bars in the fridge in an airtight container. These glass containers are great and you can use them for any leftovers.
I hope you guys will love this gluten-free granola recipe! Its:
- Made with only 4 ingredients
- Ready in less than 15 minutes
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First Up: Whats In Soft Granola Bars
GLUTEN FREE QUICK COOKING OATS. I almost exclusively use rolled oats or steel-cut oats in my kitchen, but this is a good use for quick-cooking oats. Ive found rolled make the bars too chewy, and they dont hold together as well. This brand and this brand are certified gluten free.
GLUTEN FREE CRISP RICE CEREAL. We almost always use crisp brown rice cereal, since its certified gluten free. If youre not gluten intolerant, any crisp rice will do! We usually go for Erewhon, One Degree, or Barbaras brands, which are certified GF. I get them at Sprouts, Whole Foods, Thrive Market, Natural Grocers, or in bulk .
COCONUT OIL. I use coconut oil since its subtly sweet and I dont feel like these granola bars have a strong coconut taste. You can use refined coconut oil , or swap in butter or vegan butter, depending on your needs.
BROWN RICE SYRUP.Brown rice syrup is a thick, sweet syrup made from brown rice. It works wonders binding the mixture together and is neutral enough to let the other flavors shine. I find it least expensively at Sprouts, Natural Grocers, or Whole Foods, but I have also found it at Kroger and . *Cant find it? See the FAQ + TIPS section below for a solution.
PURE MAPLE SYRUP. Just 2 tablespoons here, but pure maple syrup add a lovely sweet note.
SALT & VANILLA. My flavor balancers! I notice a difference when I forget the pinch of salt. It really brings out the other flavors. Vanilla lends some sweetness as well, though you can swap it out for other extracts
Recipe Notes And Top Tips
- For more flavor: You could toast the nuts, seeds, and even optionally the oats in a dry skillet until fragrant and the oats are a slightly darker golden color.
- The yield: This easy granola bar recipe makes a small batch. Double the recipe if you have a larger, 8 or 9-inch square pan.
- To change the consistency: Reduce or increase the baking time by several minutes for chewy vs crunchy granola bars.
- Experiment with flavors: As long as you keep the general ingredient ratios the same, there are plenty of ways to play around with the flavor of your healthy granola bar recipe. Adapt it based on the season, your budget, your macro goals, and your taste buds.
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Are These Granola Bars Gluten Free
Whether or not this granola is gluten free depends on the types of oats that you use. Oats are gluten free, HOWEVER due to the manufacturing process oats are frequently exposed to wheat. So, unless the oats you are using explicitly state they are gluten free, assume that they are not gluten free.
I used Rice Krispies for this recipe, and Rice Krispies are NOT gluten-free. They are made with barley and malt, which may contain gluten. If you follow a gluten free diet and want to use a gluten free puffed rice cereal, try this one from Natures Path.
Peanut Butter Granola Bars
How do I take a tried n true snack and make it even better? Thats what I asked myself when I started working on this peanut butter granola bars recipe.
The answer? Make these peanut butter granola bars with the fewest ingredients possible, dramatically decrease prep time, and make them impossibly delicious.
Wanna see how these no bake peanut butter granola bars are all that and more? Lets make this!
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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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How To Store And Freeze
The baked granola bars keep at room temperature for about 1 week. Just make sure they are tightly covered or sealed in a container. For longer storage, wrap them in parchment paper, then place in an airtight container or ziplock bag and freeze for up to 3 months. So you can remove them individually whenever you need a chewy homemade granola bar!
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What Else Could I Add To The Vegan Granola Bars
One of the best things about making your own homemade granola bars is how easy they are to tweak and adapt to your liking. Here are a few ingredients you could experiment with for new flavors and textures.
- Puffed quinoa or rice: To combine with the oats for extra texture, crunch, and more fiber and micronutrients in these gluten-free granola bars.
- Vanilla extract: Use a splash of pure vanilla for the best flavor in these low sugar granola bars.
- Other spices: I.e., pumpkin spice is lovely for fall/winter, nutmeg, etc.
- Citrus zest: Lemon or orange zest helps to brighten and infuse the healthy granola bars with a subtle citrusy flavor.
- Shredded coconut: Use raw or lightly toasted coconut for texture and a subtle flavor. I recommend adding just a few tbsp .
- Dairy-free chocolate: You can either add some mini chocolate chips into the homemade granola bars, drizzle vegan white chocolate or dark chocolate lightly over them, or add a handful of cacao nibs .
- Sugarfree mini marshmallows: For a super soft, sweet element.
- Protein powder: I havent tried this, but I think you may be able to substitute the oat flour for protein powder. Let me know if you try it.
Please read the recipe card below for the full ingredients list, measurements, complete recipe method, and nutritional information.
Chewy Gluten Free & Vegan Granola Bars
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
These homemade vegan granola bars take only four ingredients to make and theyre no bake! Once you make homemade granola bars, you wont be able to go back to to store-bought ones!
I feel like my kids are going through boxes upon boxes of granola bars lately. Its their favorite snack and frankly, mine too.
So, I thought it would be fun to make our own homemade granola bar recipe that we can customize with our favorite mix-ins.
If you want to browse recipes by flavor, check out these chocolate recipes, vanilla recipes, cinnamon recipes, peanut butter recipes and coconut recipes.
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Can I Freeze Granola Bars
Yes, you can! If you made too many for your family to finish in one week then you can pop them in the freezer to enjoy later and they could last up to 2 to 2 ½ months. We recommend wrapping them individually in foil or parchment paper and then place them in a freezer-friendly bag or container . Youll be thrilled to remember you have them when hunger strikes and you have run out of snacks. Bingo!
Ingredients Needed For Granola Bars
These healthy granola bars are made with only wholesome ingredients. No oil. No dairy.
- Rolled Oats- Oats are naturally gluten-free, however, they can be cross-contaminated during processing if the facility also processes other grains. If you are gluten-intolerant, be sure any oats bought say certified gluten-free.
- Dates- Its important to use Medjool dates for the perfect texture and chewiness.
- Nuts- This recipe calls for almonds and pistachios, but you can use any nuts you prefer. Be sure to get the raw, unsalted variety.
- Seeds- Pumpkin seeds and chia seeds add important omegas and fiber.
- Sweetener- Coconut nectar provides the perfect sweetness to these bars.
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