Homemade Granola Bars
These homemade granola bars taste amazing and they're so easy to make. What's even better is that you can control the ingredients and create your own unique combinations. We love them with almonds, pepitas, and dried cherries, but the sky's the limit!Based on an original recipe by Inspired Taste.
Ingredients
- 2½ cups rolled oats, old fashioned, not quick cooking oats
- ½ cup whole almonds (raw and unsalted), coarsely chopped
- ¼ cup pepitas, raw and unsalted
- 4 tbsp. unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup honey
- 3 tbsp. brown sugar
- ½ tsp. vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp. fine sea salt
- ½ cup dried cherries, coarsely chopped
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350℉. Line an 8x8- or 9x9-inch pan with parchment paper and set aside. Be sure the parchment paper goes up and over the sides of the pan, as you'll use it like handles to remove the granola bars later on.
- While the oven is heating, mix the oats, almonds, and pepitas on an ungreased baking sheet. Place in the preheated oven for five minutes. After five minutes, give everything a good stir. Continue toasting the mixture for another five minutes, then remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly.
- Place the oat mixture in a large bowl and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. When the butter is melted, stir in the honey, brown sugar, vanilla, and sea salt. Increase the heat to medium low and continue cooking, stirring constantly, till the mixture bubbles and the sugar has melted. It should be nice and smooth at this point.
- Pour the butter mixture over the oats and nuts and stir to coat everything evenly. Add the dried cherries and stir again. If you're using chocolate chips, allow the mixture to cool for a few minutes before adding them. You don't want them to melt completely, though a little melting is fine.
- Transfer the granola bar mixture to the prepared pan and press down firmly. Be sure the mixture is evenly distributed and that you give it a solid press with a spatula. This will help ensure the bars stay together. If they're not pressed firmly, they can fall apart.
- Place the pan in the refrigerator for 4-6 hours, or overnight. This is where the magic happens! Thorough chilling is essential to firm bars.
- Once chilled, remove the pan from the refrigerator and lift the entire block of granola onto a cutting board using the parchment paper "handles." Using a sharp knife, cut the block into 16 squares.
- Granola bars may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, or in a cool, dark pantry. They keep for 1-2 weeks in the pantry, or 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Facts
Homemade Granola Bars
Amount per Serving
Calories
151
% Daily Value*
Fat
7
g
11
%
Saturated Fat
2
g
13
%
Trans Fat
0.1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
3
g
Cholesterol
8
mg
3
%
Sodium
33
mg
1
%
Potassium
96
mg
3
%
Carbohydrates
21
g
7
%
Fiber
2
g
8
%
Sugar
11
g
12
%
Protein
3
g
6
%
Vitamin A
227
IU
5
%
Vitamin C
0.1
mg
0
%
Calcium
26
mg
3
%
Iron
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.