Description
Whipping up homemade granola bars in your kitchen feels like a delightful weekend project that fills the house with a warm, nutty aroma. Packed with wholesome oats, honey, and your favorite nuts, these bars make perfect grab-and-go snacks that keep you energized throughout the day.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients:
- 2 cups rolled oats
- ½ cup nut butter
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup coconut oil
Binding and Flavor Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Optional Mix-Ins:
- ½ cup dried fruit
- ¼ cup seeds
- ¼ cup nuts
- ¼ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Prepare your 8×8-inch baking pan by coating it with cooking spray at room temperature.
- Melt ¼ cup coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl for 30 seconds until completely liquid.
- Whisk ½ cup nut butter, ¼ cup honey, and the melted coconut oil together until the mixture looks smooth and glossy.
- Stir 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and ¼ teaspoon salt into the wet ingredients until thoroughly incorporated.
- In a separate large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups rolled oats, ½ cup dried fruit, ¼ cup seeds, and ¼ cup chopped nuts.
- Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and mix until every oat is coated and the mixture feels sticky.
- Transfer the granola mixture into the prepared pan, pressing down firmly with a rubber spatula to create an even, compact layer.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and position the rack in the center position.
- Bake the granola bars for exactly 18 minutes until the edges turn golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let the pan cool completely on a wire rack for 1 hour before cutting into 10-12 rectangular bars.
Notes
- Store granola bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, keeping them away from humidity to maintain their crisp texture.
- Swap ingredients freely based on dietary needs, like using gluten-free oats for celiac diets or replacing nuts with seeds for allergy considerations.
- Press the mixture super firmly into the pan to ensure the bars hold together well and don’t crumble when cut or eaten.
- For extra protein, add a scoop of protein powder or swap some oats for quinoa flakes, which will boost nutrition without changing the basic recipe.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Dessert Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 224 kcal
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 60 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg