6 Homemade Granola Energy Bars Recipes (2024)

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Simple no-bake healthy granola bars made with all-natural ingredients. Have you ever read some of the labels of popular granola bars? You may be surprised what is hiding in such a so-called “healthy” granola bar! They can be full of high-fructose corn syrup, sugar, and ingredients that are so difficult to even pronounce. I love how Larabar makes bars with minimal ingredients but since they can be expensive, I wanted to create a homemade Larabarrecipe that can easily be made at home.

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We love to go hiking as a family and it is hard to find all-natural granola bars that will give us the energy we need and fill our bellies with nutritious ingredients. Also, hese No-Bake Oat Bars can be made gluten-free and dairy-free, so they are perfect for people dealing with food allergies.

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The homemade granola bars are made with simple, all-natural ingredients — rolled oats, dates, nut butter, honey, and coconut oil. Then your favorite mix-ins are added to give these energy bars variety. The healthy carbs give you the energy to last all day long! The dates are called nature’s candy because they are sweet like candy without eating artificial sugars. They are the perfect base for these no-bakegranola bars. Honey is used as a sweetener and binder instead of sugar and high-fructose corn syrup.

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These All-Natural Homemade Granola Bars are easy to whip up in a food processor or high-powered blender (such as Vitamix or Blendtec). I can make a batch of bars in less than 5 minutes in my food processor! There’s no baking involved. Just place the bars in the freezer for 15 minutes to allow them to chill and set up.

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TROPICAL PINEAPPLE COCONUT MACADAMIA GRANOLA BARS — All of the tropical flavors combined into one energy bar!This is for all of my coconut fans out there who love a little salty and sweet. The base of the oatmeal date bars are rolled oats, dates, almond butter, honey, and coconut oil. Unsweetened coconut flakes, dried pineapple, and chopped macadamia nuts are added. This is a filling, nutritious bar with healthy carbs and fats.

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PEANUT BUTTER and CHOCOLATE GRANOLA BARS —All of the Chocolate Peanut Butter Fans may rejoice! This bar is made with rolled oats, dates, all-natural peanut butter, honey, coconut oil, and dark chocolate.

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WHITE CHOCOLATE APRICOT GRANOLA BARS — The combination of sweet, chewy dried apricots and creamy white chocolate go perfectly together in this energy bar. This no-bake bar is made with rolled oats, dates, almond butter, honey, coconut oil, dried apricots, and white chocolate.

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CHOCOLATE CHIP BROWNIE GRANOLA BARS — A chocolate lover’s dream without all of the guilt! This Healthy Chocolate Brownie Granola Bar is made with rolled oats, unsweetened cocoa powder, almond butter, dates, honey, coconut oil, and dark chocolate.

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CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOUGH GRANOLA BARS —This is your chance to eat healthier chocolate chip cookie dough! A healthy power energy bar made with rolled oats, dates, cashews, honey, coconut oil, and chocolate chips.

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CRANBERRY WALNUT GRANOLA BARS —Trail mix in a bar! This bar gives you energy for hours with rolled oats, dates, almond butter, honey, coconut oil, dried cranberries, and crunchy walnuts.

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE NO-BAKE GRANOLA BARS:

  1. Start with Medjool Dates. Don’t forget to remove the seed in the center! These are called “nature’s candy” for good reason. Dates keep these bars soft and moist while adding all-natural sweetness. Using a food processor breaks down the dates in no time at all.
  2. Add a Nut Butter. This gives the energy bar hearty richness. Use almond butter, all-natural peanut butter, or cashews to create a creamy granola bar.
  3. Use Rolled Oats. There are two options with the oats — you can either blend the oats with the dates and nut butter or stir them in after the dates, nut butter, honey, and coconut oil have been mixed in the food processor. It all depends if you want a hearty sturdier bar with the whole rolled oats or if you want them to be made into a flour-like consistency. If you blend the oats, the bars resemble more of a Larabar. If you just stir in the rolled oats, it resembles more of a granola bar.
  4. Use Honey as a Sweetener and Binder. Hello, Honey….you work wonders. I enjoy using honey in bars as it brings moisture and helps to bind the ingredients together. Honey works perfectly in these granola bars.
  5. Add Coconut Oil. We have heard of the benefits of coconut oil for years. These bars don’t need much coconut oil but it helps to keep them soft and moist.
  6. Stir in the Mix-ins.Add dark chocolate, dried fruits, nuts, or whatever you prefer to customize your very own bar. Once you have the base granola bar recipe down, you can make anything your heart desires!

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HOW TO STORE HOMEMADE GRANOLA BARS:

Keep the energy bars tightly covered in Ziploc bag in the refrigerator, freezer, or in your pantry. I keep them in my freezer and can pull them out anytime and let them come to room temperature, about 15-20 minutes. I can also stick them in my kid’s lunch boxes for a healthy snack.

If you are looking for Healthy Smoothie Recipes, check out my 6 HEALTHY SUPERFOOD SMOOTHIE RECIPES.

GRANOLA BAR RECIPES:

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5 from 7 votes

6 Homemade Granola Energy Bars Recipes

By: Melissa Stadler, Modern Honey

6 Homemade Granola Energy Bars Recipes are made with all-natural, nutritious ingredients to give you energy all day long.

Ingredients

  • PEANUT BUTTER and CHOCOLATE GRANOLA BAR:
  • 12 Pitted Dates
  • 1 cup Rolled Oats
  • 1/4 cup Peanut Butter natural
  • 1/3 cup Honey
  • 2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil melted
  • 1/4 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/3 cup Dark Chocolate Chunks or Chocolate Chips
  • Peanuts optional

  • TROPICAL PINEAPPLE COCONUT MACADAMIA GRANOLA BAR:
  • 12 Pitted Dates
  • 1 cup Rolled Oats
  • 2 Tablespoons Almond Butter
  • 1/3 cup Honey
  • 2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil melted
  • 1/2 cup Coconut Flakes unsweetened
  • 1/2 cup Dried Pineapple chopped
  • 1/2 cup Macadamia Nuts chopped
  • Pinch of Salt

  • CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOUGH GRANOLA BAR:
  • 12 Pitted Dates
  • 1 cup Rolled Oats
  • 1/4 cup Raw Cashews
  • 1/3 cup Honey
  • 2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil melted
  • 1/4 teaspoon Salt if cashews are salted, don't add salt
  • 1/3 cup Chocolate Chips

  • APRICOT WHITE CHOCOLATE GRANOLA BAR:
  • 12 Pitted Dates
  • 1 cup Rolled Oats
  • 2 Tablespoons Almond Butter
  • 1/3 cup Honey
  • 2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil melted
  • 1/2 cup Dried Apricots diced
  • 1/3 cup White Chocolate Chips

  • CHOCOLATE CHIP BROWNIE GRANOLA BAR:
  • 12 Pitted Dates
  • 1 cup Rolled Oats
  • 2 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder unsweetened
  • 2 Tablespoons Almond Butter
  • 1/3 cup Honey may use 1 more Tablespoon depending on preference
  • 2 1/2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil melted
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 1/3 cup Dark Chocolate Chunks or Chocolate Chips

  • CRANBERRY WALNUT TRAIL MIX GRANOLA BARS:
  • 12 Pitted Dates
  • 1 cup Rolled Oats
  • 2 Tablespoons Almond Butter
  • 1/3 cup Honey
  • 2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil melted
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 1/2 cup Dried Cranberries
  • 1/3 cup Walnuts

Instructions

  • To make each Homemade Granola Bar Recipe:

  • Combine dates, honey, nut butter or nuts, and coconut oil in food processor or high-powered blender (such as Vitamix or Blendtec). If you want to blend the oats into a flour-type consistency, add to food processor. If you want hearty oats (like a granola bar), stir in oats when you add mix-ins.

  • Pulse mixture until smooth.

  • Place mixture into a bowl and stir in remaining mix-in ingredients.

  • Press into a small pan or baking dish (I use a quarter baking sheet) and place into freezer to chill for 15 minutes to allow the bars to set up.

  • Remove from freezer and cut into bars.

  • Store in pantry, refrigerator, or freezer.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Snack or Breakfast

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I hope you love these 6 Homemade Granola Energy Bar Recipes! Let me know what you think on instagram @modern_honey. Thanks for stopping by!

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Hi, I'm Melissa Stadler!

I am an Award-Winning Recipe Creator. Cover of Food Network Magazine. Two-Time Pillsbury Bake-Off Finalist. I am passionate about sharing the best recipes so you have success in the kitchen!

More about Me

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6 Homemade Granola Energy Bars Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What binds granola bars together? ›

Natural peanut or cashew butter – It helps bind the bars together, and it adds protein, healthy fats, and irresistible nutty flavor.

Is it cheaper to make your own granola bars? ›

They save well (wrap and freeze them for up to two months), are more affordable than store-bought bars, and don't contain the long list of unpronounceable ingredients. Plus, your kitchen will smell like a bakery while these granola bars bake. Ahhhh.

Are homemade granola bars healthier? ›

Granola bars are a convenient, flavorful, and portable snack. Still, many prepackaged varieties are high in sugar, calories, and ingredients that may harm your health. Studying ingredient lists carefully or choosing to make your own granola bars can ensure that your snack is both nutritious and delicious.

Are granola bars a good source of energy? ›

Granola bars can be a good source of energy. If you become tired and have difficulty focusing between meals, consider eating a snack to boost your energy levels. Granola bars and energy bars are small, portable snacks that give you fuel during the day.

What is the best binding agent for granola bars? ›

Honey: Since it's a granola bar, refined sugar is not used in the recipe as it's meant to be healthy. So to provide appropriate sweetness, honey is used. Also, honey acts as the primary binding agent.

How to harden homemade granola bars? ›

The better you press, the better the bars hold together.

When you're happy with the pressed mixture, press a spoonful of chocolate chips on top, and then chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours. This hardens everything and makes it easy to cut the granola mixture into bars.

Why do my homemade granola bars fall apart? ›

Using the right binding agent in your granola bar recipe is a crucial part of keeping your bars from falling apart. While there are several different sticky ingredients that you can use, we've found that the binding agent that works the best is honey!

Why are homemade granola not crunchy? ›

Bake low and slow.

Cook at 300 degrees F slowly for about 30 minutes or until it is golden brown and toasty. Cooking at too high of a temperature will likely burn the honey coating, the oats, and the nuts. A lower temperature ensures even baking for crispy, crunchy granola.

How long do homemade granola bars last? ›

In general, most homemade granola bar recipes will last up to a week when stored in an airtight container.

Can I eat homemade granola everyday? ›

Yes, granola can be eaten daily. As part of a balanced diet and if the portions are checked. Go for healthier options with less added sugars and saturated fats to get the most out of it.

Does homemade granola spike blood sugar? ›

Because granola contains carbohydrates, it can spike blood sugar levels in some people with diabetes. However, whether or not granola spikes your blood sugar levels, and how quickly it may cause a blood sugar spike, will vary depending on what type of granola you eat and what you pair it with.

Do granola bars count as junk food? ›

Often touted for their whole grain goodness, most granola bars are sticky-sweet junk food in disguise. Don't let a few oats fool you — especially when you also see marshmallows and chocolate chips. Instead: If granola bars are a must-have, choose one with 6 grams of sugar or less per bar, and hopefully some fibre.

What are three foods that should be in energy bars? ›

My favorite is still cherries, almonds, and dates (which are pictured here), but you can swap out the cherries and almonds for any dried fruit or nut. Keep the dates, though. They act as a binder and also sweeten the bars without needing sugar.

What is the difference between granola bars and energy bars? ›

Granola bars are typically a lighter mix of nuts, grains and dried fruit. While many granola bars make a great snack in between meals, energy bars are often higher in protein and calories and better for a post-workout refuel -- or in some cases, a small meal.

How do you make granola bars not fall apart? ›

While there are several different sticky ingredients that you can use, we've found that the binding agent that works the best is honey! When added to your homemade granola bars, honey acts as glue that sticks all the pieces together.

How do you get granola to stick together? ›

There are other ways to achieve clumpier granola. You can add more fat (in the form of butter or oil). If you're shooting for a somewhat healthy result, you can add some other binder, like an egg white or applesauce. Here's the sneakier, way more excellent method: oat flour.

What is the glue in granola bars? ›

Honey. Sweetens the granola bars and helps bind the dry ingredients together.

How to soften hard granola bars? ›

General Mills told Bloomer that eaters could try warming the bars up in the microwave to soften them first (but take them out of the package first). This seems to work, according to one test video, but it turned out the tester preferred the taste of the crunchy, crumbly version to the less messy one.

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