Description
Wholesome “homemade granola bars” blend nutty oats, sweet honey, and crunchy almonds into a delightful snack. Packed with energy and flavor, these bars offer a perfect balance of texture and nutrition you’ll crave between meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups (480 ml / 16 fl oz) rolled oats
- 1/2 cup (120 ml / 4 fl oz) honey or maple syrup
- 1/2 cup (120 g / 4.2 oz) natural peanut butter or almond butter
Nuts and Add-ins:
- 1/4 cup (30 g / 1 oz) chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts, or cashews)
- 1/4 cup (40 g / 1.4 oz) dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, or apricots)
- 1/4 cup (45 g / 1.6 oz) dark chocolate chips (optional)
- 2 tablespoons (20 g / 0.7 oz) chia seeds or flaxseeds (optional)
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare a square baking dish by lining it completely with parchment paper, ensuring the paper overhangs on two sides for easy removal.
- Create a smooth binding liquid by gently heating honey and peanut butter in a saucepan over low temperature, stirring continuously until well combined and glossy.
- Remove the liquid mixture from heat and incorporate vanilla extract, mixing thoroughly to enhance the flavor profile.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, assemble the dry ingredients: rolled oats, chopped nuts, dried fruit pieces, ground cinnamon, sea salt, and nutrient-rich chia and flaxseeds.
- Pour the warm liquid mixture over the dry ingredients, using a spatula to fold and coat every component evenly, ensuring comprehensive integration.
- Transfer the granola mixture into the prepared pan, using firm pressure and smooth motions to compress the ingredients into a compact, uniform layer.
- Chill the pan in the refrigerator for a minimum of 60 minutes to allow the bars to set and solidify completely.
- Once firm, lift the parchment paper to remove the entire block from the pan and slice into individual rectangular bars using a sharp knife.
- Keep the granola bars in a sealed container at ambient temperature for up to seven days, or extend their preservation by storing in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Opt for rolled oats instead of quick oats to maintain a chewier texture and better structural integrity in your granola bars.
- Toast nuts and seeds beforehand to enhance their nutty flavor and add a deeper, more complex taste profile to the bars.
- Experiment with different nut butter alternatives like almond or cashew butter for unique flavor variations and potential allergy accommodations.
- Use parchment paper overhang to easily lift and remove the entire batch of granola bars from the pan without breaking them.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg