Simple, wholesome ingredients come together in less than 5 minutes to create a chewy homemade granola bar that is better and healthier than any store bought granola bar on the market. These healthy homemade granola bars are no-bake and gluten-free.
My husband is a granola bar addict.
And while that is not such a bad thing when he is snacking on homemade granola bars, when he grabs a store-bought granola bar, it is not such a great idea.
Wholesome snacks like Banana Sushi, Trail Mix Snack Bars, Cinnamon No Bake Breakfast Protein Bites and a Cherry Pie Smoothie are great options as they are balanced in fiber, healthy fats, and healthy carbs.
Thankfully, he loves my wholesome homemade granola bars and they are SO easy to make, that I almost always have them on hand.
Homemade Granola Bars
My recipe for homemade granola bars are the BEST granola bar recipe ever–PERIOD.
Chewy Style Granola Bars are:
- adaptable to your preferences
- require no baking
- gluten-free
- dairy-free
- naturally sweetened
- high in fiber
- provides a dose of healthy fats
- super easy to make (like my kids make them all by themselves)
- are perfect snack for any time
- pickey eater approved
Ingredients for Homemade Granola Bars
- Dates
- Use whole dates that are not coated in sugar.
- Oats
- Use gluten free oats for a Gluten Free Granola Bar.
- Coconut Oil
- The coconut oil will give these homemade granola bars a similar taste to store bought chewy granola bars and help the bars to solidify.
- Maple Syrup
- Feel free to substitute maple syrup with honey if you are not looking for a Vegan Granola Bar.
- Nut Butter
- Peanut butter or almond butter work great in these No Bake Granola Bars.
- If you are nut-free, use soy butter or sunflower seed butter.
- Add-Ins
- Feel free to add in up to 1 cup dried fruit, chocolate chips, etc to flavor homemade granola bars.
How to Make Granola Bars
Making homemade granola bars is about the easiest recipe ever. It is as simple as throwing a few ingredients into a food processor, a few zaps, and you just made DIY granola bars! Easy-peasy.
Step One: Soak Dates
- Soak unsweetened dates with hot water for 5 minutes to soften for easier processing.
- After 5 minutes, drain dates.
Step Two: Process Granola Bars
- Place dates in food processor until thick paste forms.
- Add in nut butter, maple syrup, melted coconut oil, and salt and process until creamy.
- Add in oats and pulse until combined.
- At this time if using add-ins, stir them into granola bar mixture.
Step Three: Form Granola Bars
- Line a 8×8 or 7×11 pan with parchement or wax paper.
- Add the oats mixture to the pan and using either moistened hands or wax paper, spread out as evenly as possible.
- Place in freezer for 5-10 minutes to solidify and then slice into bars.
Storing Granola Bars
- Wrap granola bars in wax or parchment paper and place into a air-tight container or bag.
- Store in fridge for up to 6 days.
Notes on No Bake Homemade Granola Bars
- Pro-tip for working with dates: Soak unsweetened dates with hot water for 5 minutes to soften for easier processing.
- If you don’t have coconut oil, you can use melted butter, but the coconut oil is key in reproducing the flavor you get in store-bought granola bars.
- Do not use canola oil in place of coconut oil. The canola oil will not solidify and your granola bars will never set up properly.
- If you have peanut allergy, use almond butter or sunflower butter in these granola bars.
- Be sure to use gluten-free oats to keep these granola bars gluten-free if needed.
- Quick-cooking oats or old-fashioned oats work in this granola bar recipe. Steel-cut oats do NOT.
- If you want to keep these granola bars vegan, use maple syrup instead of honey. But both options work well.
More Healthy Snack Recipes
- Homemade Larabars
- 2 Ingredient Homemade Gogurts
- Homemade Microwave Popcorn
- Instant Pot Yogurt
- Easy Homemade Fruit Roll Ups
Homemade Granola Bar Recipe
Homemade Granola Bars
Simple, wholesome ingredients come together in less than 5 minutes to create a chewy homemade granola bar that is better and healthier than any store bought granola bar on the market.
Print Pin RatePrep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 147kcal
Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted dates
- 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil melted
- 3 tablespoons peanut butter or sunflower butter or almond butter
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp sea salt omit if you are using salted peanut butter
- 2 cups gluten free oats
- optional: add up to 1/2 cup of the following: chopped nuts raisins, mini chocolate chips, dried fruit, sesame seeds, chia seeds, etc
Instructions
- Start by being sure your dates are relatively soft. If they are not, soak in hot water for up to 30 minutes and then drain.
- Process dates in food processor and then add maple syrup, coconut oil, peanut butter, vanilla, and salt.
- Add in oats and pulse until just combines and all the oats are moistened well.
- Stir in any mix-ins into batter you desire. (I choose to use 2 tablespoons of chia seeds and then drizzled dark chocolate I melted over the top for the pictured batch--INSANE!!!)
- Place into a 8x8 pan that has been lined with wax or parchment paper. Add the oats mixture to the pan and using either moistened hands or wax paper, spread out as evenly as possible.
- Place in freezer for 15 minutes and then slice into bars.
- Store these bars wrapped individually in wax paper and stored in the fridge.
Nutrition Facts
Homemade Granola Bars
Amount Per Serving
Calories 147 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Sodium 116mg5%
Potassium 170mg5%
Carbohydrates 23g8%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 12g13%
Protein 3g6%
Calcium 21mg2%
Iron 0.8mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
I would love to know how you enjoy this recipe!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram or Facebook - I would love to see!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.
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These were really tasty and satisfying. Easy to make with a food processor. I added some bran, coconut and walnuts. They set up nicely with good flavour. Thanks for the recipe!
I am so glad you enjoyed Sharon!
Is there an alternative to the dates? I’m not a fan of them.
Hi Erika! Yes, you can use raisins. I would still soak the raisins. You may also need an additional tablespoon of peanut butter (or honey) to bring the mixture together. Hope you enjoy 💕
These r yum!!! Can you freeze them??
Hi Suzanne, I am glad you enjoyed! These bars can be frozen for up to 3 months–but I will be honest in saying I prefer them fresh 🙂
Just made these, but substituted aquafaba for the coconut oil. (I eat an oil-free diet.) While they didn’t set quite like they would have with the coconut oil, they’re still so very yummy!
Think I’m going to play around with the recipe sometime, to create more of a no-bake cookie. It was the first thing I thought of, when I tasted the “batter!” Just need it to set a little bit more, and it’ll be perfect!
Oh yes, I bet these would be great as a no bake cookie! You could roll them into balls and maybe even roll them in chopped nuts or coconut…yum! Glad you enjoyed these bars and were able to make them work for your diet 🙂
Omg so delish! I used less dates and honey and more natural pb. I added extra salt. I also added a 1/4 cup pecans. So good! Everyone should make them. I will no longer buy at the store.
YAY!!! I am so glad that you enjoyed Lory!! We love them here so much, it makes me happy to know others enjoy as much as we do.
Just curious, can honey/maple syrup be replaced with something else for a more sugar-free granola bar?
Hi Clara! I would have to play with the ratios, but you can remove the honey/maple syrup and replace with more processed dates and nut butter. Do not try to use a granulated sugar substitute as it would make the bars gritty and give them an artificial taste. I would start by increasing dates by 1 tablespoon and peanut butter by 1-2 Tablespoons until your bars just come together. Hope that helps.
I was wondering if olive oil would substitute for the coconut oil or of there is another alternative as I’m allergic to coconut, butter (dairy), margarine and most other vegetable/corn oils. Can anyone recommend anything?
Hi Crystal! I would try using an extra tablespoon of peanut butter or nut butter of some sort in place of the coconut oil. It may be a bit more delicate, but that should work. Olive oil would make these bars a bit too greasy.
I love that these are no-bake. My gluten free kids are going to love these in their lunchboxes!!
My kids BEG for them too Sandi
I love making granola! I can’t wait to try your recipe. Thanks for the soaking the dates tip. That will come in handy!
The soaking of dates is such a great hack to using dates in baked (or no bake) goods. Enjoy Stef!
Love that these are no bake! So easy! Great recipe!
Thanks Alex! Easy is necessary in this busy life!
Yum! So easy and healthy.
Exactly why they are so great!
Love that these are no bake! An easy way to throw together a quick healthy snack!
That is what makes them so great for quick snacks!
No bake and gluten free?! you are singing my tune!!
These sound delish! Thanks so much for sharing this at the Friday Frenzy.
Danielle,
I hope you enjoy them as much as we do at our house!