Granola Bar Recipe
Kickstart your day with a homemade granola bar recipe! These wholesome bars are packed with fiber-rich oats, dried fruit, chocolate, and a myriad of seeds, all held together by a refined sugar-free mixture. Enjoy one as an on-the-go breakfast or a healthy snack!
โค๏ธ Why youโll love this recipe
- Easy to make: There are no complicated steps or equipment required. You donโt even have to turn on your oven!
- Vegan-friendly: This granola bar recipe features plant-based ingredients, making them ideal for vegans or those with food allergies.
- Nutritious: These bars are packed with fiber, protein, and healthy fats to keep you satiated and energized throughout the day.
- Perfect for on-the-go: Whether you need a quick breakfast on the way to work or a mid-hike snack, these bars have got you covered!
If you love our granola bar recipe, you should really check out our other wholesome creations, like vegan granola, bionicos, high-protein overnight oats, or peanut butter protein balls.
๐ซ What exactly is a granola bar?
Granola bars are an American invention that has been marketed as a healthy, portable snack option. But with ingredients like corn syrup, milk fat, and palm oil, itโs hard to classify many of the store-bought versions as โhealthyโ nowadays.
And thatโs how this granola bar recipe came to be! It features a wholesome blend of oats, crispy rice cereal, seeds, vegan chocolate chips, and dried fruits. The binding mixture is made up of Medjool dates, tahini, peanut butter, and coconut nectar.
The best part? No baking or difficult preparation is required! Just mix, freeze, and cut. Plus, theyโre a great way to incorporate healthy fats and protein into your diet since there are a variety of nuts and seeds in each bite.
Granola bars are the perfect kind of snack for all lifestyles. Whether youโre hiking, running errands, or taking care of the kids, these handy dandy homemade granola bars are here for you!
๐ฑ Are granola bars vegan?
Often, granola bars contain ingredients like honey, milk fat, and other non-vegan mix-ins and additives. Donโt worry though, this granola bar recipe is 100% vegan! The main substitutions we made are:
- Vegan chocolate chips in place of regular chocolate chips.
- Coconut nectar for a vegan-friendly sweetener instead of honey.
๐ Ingredients & substitutions
- Medjool dates: Provide a natural sweetness and act as a binder. If Medjools are unavailable, you can use any other type of date like Deglet Noor or Mazafati.
- Rolled oats: Add a perfectly chewy texture and are a great source of fiber. If you prefer a softer texture, you can try quick oats. We donโt recommend steel-cut oats for this granola bar recipe.
- Crispy rice cereal: Brings a light crunch to the bars. If crispy rice cereal is unavailable, popped quinoa or amaranth make good substitutes.
- Dried cranberries: Impart a tart flavor that balances the sweetness of the bars. If you prefer a different fruit, feel free to use raisins, dried blueberries, mangoes, apricots, or cherries.
- Mini vegan chocolate chips: Make these homemade granola bars feel slightly indulgent. We typically opt for Enjoy Life, but any vegan-friendly brand will do. For a completely sugar-free option, replace them with cacao nibs.
- Seeds: We love to add pumpkin and sesame seeds for a nutritious crunch. Feel free to use sunflower seeds, flax seeds, or chia seeds instead.
- Tahini: Adds a nutty, sweet, and slightly bitter flavor. We recommend runny tahini brands like ARZ Fine Foods, Tamam, Okka, and Soom. If you canโt find any, just use extra peanut butter, almond butter, or sunflower seed butter.
- Peanut butter: For a creamy, rich taste, use natural smooth peanut butter (not creamy peanut butter). For those with peanut allergies, use almond butter, extra tahini, sunflower seed butter, or pumpkin seed butter.
- Coconut nectar: We like to use coconut nectar for its sweetness and health benefits. If you donโt have coconut nectar available, substitute it with maple syrup or agave nectar.
- Sea salt: You just need a pinch to complement the sweet flavors, especially if your peanut butter is unsalted.
For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.
๐ How to make granola bars
Step 1: Prep the dates
Before starting anything else, youโll need to soak the dates in hot water for about an hour. Typically, we just soak them overnight so they are extra soft and easy to blend.
When youโre ready, use a small blender or food processor to blend them into a date paste. Itโs okay if there are a few pieces left behind, but you want it to be mostly smooth.
Step 2: Mix the dry ingredients
Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl. If youโre using any additional or different mix-ins, add them here as well. Just try to keep the ratios the same so the granola bars stick together properly.
Step 3: Mix the wet ingredients
In another bowl, combine the date paste, tahini, peanut butter, and coconut nectar. If your tahini is a little dry or hard, melt it slightly in the microwave in 10-second bursts to help it mix easier.
Step 4: Assemble the bars
Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and combine it well. Line a couple of loaf pans with parchment paper and press the granola mixture firmly into them. Pop the pans in the freezer for about an hour or overnight, then cut them into bars. Happy eating!
If you have questions about this granola bar recipe, check out our FAQs or leave a comment down below!
๐ก๏ธ Storage & reheating
These homemade granola bars are perfect for meal prep and so easy to store! Just follow these tips:
- Fridge: Keep any leftover granola bars in an airtight container for up to a week.
- Freezer: For longer storage, move them to the freezer in an airtight container or freezer bag. They should last for at least 3 months this way. Thaw the bars at room temperature when youโre ready to eat them again.
- Prep ahead: Prepare a large batch of this granola bar recipe to freeze so you always have a healthy snack on hand.
โป๏ธ Variations
- Nuts & seeds: Add different varieties of nuts and seeds like almonds, walnuts, pecans, hemp hearts, or sunflower seeds.
- Tropical: Use dried pineapple and coconut flakes for a tropical twist.
- Mixed berry: Use a blend of dried berries like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.
- Spiced: Add a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, allspice, or pumpkin pie spice for a warming flavor.
- Double chocolate: Increase the number of chocolate chips in the granola bar mixture or drizzle melted chocolate on top.
- Protein-packed: Add a scoop of your favorite protein powder. Just note that you will need to increase the wet ingredients accordingly.
- Date-free: Use figs or prunes as an alternative to the Medjool dates.
- Coffee-infused: Add a teaspoon of instant coffee powder to the mix for a nice little caffeine boost throughout the day.
๐งโ๐ณ Top tips
- Choose quality dates: Ensure your dates are fresh and soft, and soak them for the recommended amount of time for a smoother blend.
- Check the consistency: The mixture should be runny but sticky enough to hold together. If it’s too dry, add more date paste or peanut butter.
- Press it down: Press the mixture down firmly in the pan to ensure it stays together when you cut the granola bars.
- Freeze well: Even though itโs tempting, donโt try to cut the bars too soon. The wet mixture needs time in the freezer to properly solidify.
- Cutting: Make sure you have a sharp knife and a sturdy cutting board when you cut the granola bars. This will help you achieve clean, even cuts.
- Peanut butter: For the best flavor, texture, and ease of mixing, we recommend using natural homemade peanut butter.
๐ฌ FAQ
While quick oats provide a softer texture, we donโt really recommend using them. Old-fashioned rolled oats have a better overall texture and flavor, especially for this granola bar recipe.
Absolutely! Try adding a few scoops of your favorite protein powder to this recipe. You will have to adjust the amount of liquids added since protein powder tends to dry out the batter.
We donโt recommend adding fresh fruit to this recipe because it will make the bars soggy and increase the chances of them falling apart.
Although itโs not absolutely necessary, melting very thick peanut butter can be helpful in the mixing process.
๐ด More healthy snack recipes
If you enjoyed these homemade granola bars, take a peek at some more delicious and delicious recipes like these:
- Pumpkin Banana Muffins: A combination of pumpkin muffins and banana bread.
- Homemade Snickers Bars: Layers of chocolate, peanuts, date caramel, and creamy nougat.
- Banana Almond Flour Muffins: Simple gluten-free muffins made with almond flour and bananas.
- Banana Oatmeal Cookies: Soft, tender, and naturally sweetened cookies.
Easy Granola Bar Recipe (Without Baking)
Equipment
- Food processor
- Large mixing bowl
- Loaf pans
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
- ยฝ cup Medjool dates, soaked
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup crispy rice cereal
- ยฝ cup dried cranberries
- ยผ cup mini vegan chocolate chips
- โ cup pumpkin seeds
- โ cup sesame seeds
- A pinch of sea salt
- ยผ cup tahini
- ยฝ cup natural smooth peanut butter
- ยผ cup coconut nectar
Instructions
- Pit the dates, then soak them in hot water for at least 1 hour but preferably overnight.
- Once theyโve softened, drain the water and blend them in a small high-speed blender or food processor until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides a few times.
- Add the rolled oats, crispy rice cereal, dried cranberries, mini chocolate chips, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and salt to a large mixing bowl. Stir thoroughly with a wooden spoon or whisk.
- In a separate bowl, combine the date paste, runny tahini, peanut butter, and coconut nectar. Transfer the mixture to the bowl of dry ingredients and mix well.
- Line 2 loaf pans with parchment paper. Divide the granola evenly between both pans, pressing the mixture down firmly with a spatula or the back of a spoon.
- Set the loaf pans in the freezer for about 1-2 hours (or overnight). Once theyโre set, cut your homemade granola bars into snack-size portions and store them in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer. Happy eating!
Notes
- Choose quality dates: Ensure your dates are fresh and soft, and soak them for the recommended amount of time for a smoother blend.
- Check the consistency: The mixture should be runny but sticky enough to hold together. If it’s too dry, add more date paste or peanut butter.
- Press it down: Press the mixture down firmly in the pan to ensure it stays together when you cut the granola bars.
- Freeze well: Even though itโs tempting, donโt try to cut the bars too soon. The wet mixture needs time in the freezer to properly solidify.
- Cutting: Make sure you have a sharp knife and a sturdy cutting board when you cut the granola bars. This will help you achieve clean, even cuts.
- Peanut butter: For the best flavor, texture, and ease of mixing, we recommend using natural homemade peanut butter.
- Nutritional information is a rough estimate and should not be taken as health advice.
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Nutrition
Note: We’ve updated this post to include new information and helpful tips about the recipe.
Justine Drosdovech is a food writer, photographer, and one of the founders of Broke Bank Vegan. She is a self-taught plant-based chef but uses her healthcare background to craft dishes that are both delicious and nourishing.