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. These healthy homemade granola bars are no-bake, naturally sweetened, gluten-free, vegan-friendly, and easy enough for kids to make on their own!

These granola bars are one of our favorite homemade snacks. They are made with simple pantry staples and are delightfully sweet–without refined sugar!

Homemade Granola Bars

My recipe for homemade granola bars are the BEST granola bar recipe ever–PERIOD.

These Chewy Style Granola Bars are:

• adaptable to your preferences
• require no baking
• gluten-free
• dairy-free
• vegan-friendly
• naturally sweetened
• high in fiber
• provides a dose of healthy fats
• super easy to make (like my kids make them all by themselves)
• are a perfect snack for any time
• picky eater approved

Ingredients

• Dates: Be sure to use whole pitted dates. Not the chopped dates that Use whole dates that are not coated in sugar.
• Oats: Quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats work for this recipe. Just be sure to 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 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 works great in these No-Bake Granola Bars. And if you are nut-free, use soy butter or sunflower seed butter.

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 DONE! Easy-peasy.

Step One: Soak Dates

If your dates have been sitting in your pantry for a long period of time, they may be a bit dried out. Soft dates work best for granola bars.

• Place dates in bowl and cover with hot water.
• Soak dates for 5-30 minutes.
• After 5 minutes, drain the liquid reserving if needed.

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 parchment 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.

More Healthy Snack Recipes

• Homemade Larabars
• 2 Ingredient Homemade Gogurts
• Instant Pot Yogurt
• Easy Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups

These granola bars make a great treat for kids to enjoy any time! I hope that you give them a try for your own family and be sure to share pictures on social media tagging @amindfullmom and leave a comment below–I love seeing you make my recipes.

Homemade Granola Bars

Simple, wholesome ingredients come together to create a chewy homemade granola bar that is better and healthier than any store bought bar on the market. 

5 from 14 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Servings: 12

Calories: 147kcal

Author: Kristen Chidsey

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 oats quick cooking or old fashioned
• 1/2 cup optional add ins chopped nut, 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 5 to 30 minutes. Drain off liquid, reserving if needed.
• Line an 8x8 or 7x3 pan with parchment paper or wax paper.
• Process dates in a food processor fitted with an s blade until a thick paste forms. Add in honey/maple syrup, coconut oil, nut butter, vanilla, and salt. Pulse until combined and creamy.
• Add in oats and pulse until just combines and all the oats are moistened well, adding up to 2 tablespoons of the reserved soaking liquid from dates if needed.
• Stir in any mix-ins into batter you desire.
• Place mixture into prepared pan. Using mositened hands or a piece of wax paper, spread out mixture as evenly as possible.
• Place in fridge or freezer for 15 minutes until set up. Then slice into bars.
• Store these bars wrapped individually in wax paper and stored in the fridge. 

Equipment Needed

• Food Processor
• Parchment Paper
• 8x8 baking pan

Notes

• Be sure to use gluten free oats if you need these bars to be gluten free. 
• Homemade granola bars will last in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. 
• If you do not have coconut oil, use extra nut butter instead or melted butter. 
• Raisins can be used in place of dates in a bind, but the bars will not stick together as well. 

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!