Looking for a chewy granola bar recipe that super easy? Look no further. This is a no-bake recipe that you can pull together in 10 minutes or less. And to make them even more attractive, they are versatile, portable, and nutritional. Mmm Mmm. Get your food processor out and let’s go!
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Why This Recipe is So Great
This chewy granola bar recipe is pretty great for a few reasons. Other than being super tasty, they are also:
- Versatile
- Portable
- Nutritional
Let me explain a little more on why these are such amazing attributes for a snack to have.
Chewy Granola Bars are Versatile
This recipe is versatile. Meaning it leaves a ton of room for any add-ins you may want to try. In fact, its a perfect base for other ingredients. As you can see in the picture, I added in about 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips. But you can either leave the recipe as is, or try some of the recommendations in the “Notes” section if you like.
Just keep in mind that when adding any extras, you also need to adjust the nutrition information. The nutrition information below does not include the 1/4 cup chocolate chips that I added.
The chocolate chips would add an additional 27 calories, 1.5 gm total fat, 0.8 gm saturated fat and 3 gm carbohydrates per bar. And if you prefer to adhere to AHA guidelines, I’d suggest not adding any tropical oils or coconut to this recipe since it does not follow American Heart Association guidelines for a heart healthy diet.
Chewy Granola Bars are Portable
This recipe is also a great option for snacking on the go. I LOVE the idea of grab-and-go snacks. Let’s face it, we’re all busy human beings. And it’s nice to not have to think so hard about what to eat when going for long car rides or when running late to work, school, or wherever.
That’s where these bars fit in perfectly. Make them when you have 10 minutes to spare (YES, that’s literally how long it takes to make), and you will have nutritional, portable snacks ready to go all week long. If they last that long, that is.
Chewy Granola Bars are Nutritional
And finally, these chewy granola bars also provide some impressive nutritional benefits.
For example, the main ingredient of oats provides fiber which is known to help support healthy cholesterol and blood pressure. Diets high in fiber also help keep you full for longer, which supports a healthy weight. Foods like oats, which are considered a complex carbohydrate, also helps maintain steady blood sugars in diabetics.
Instead of using white sugar to sweeten these bars, I use a little pure maple syrup and Medjool dates.
While maple syrup is still considered an “added sugar“, there are some known benefits to the components of pure maple syrup. For example, maple syrup has antioxidants and trace minerals. It also has a slightly lower glycemic index than sugar. Still, like all other added sugars, you should use maple syrup in moderation.
And Medjool dates are a naturally sweet fruit from the Mediterranean. They contain vitamin B6, folate, niacin, magnesium, fiber, and potassium. They can often be used as a natural sweetener in baked goods.
And finally there are the almonds and peanut butter. Nuts and nut butters contain healthy mono- and polyunsaturated fats, protein, fiber, vitamin E, vitamin B6, magnesium, folate, niacin, copper, and zinc. Wowza!
Nuts do have a lot of calories packed into a small package, but to be honest they are also filling. An ounce or two per day is all you need to reap the health benefits.
How To Make Chewy Granola Bars
Recipe Instructions
- Prep your 8×8 inch pan for your bars.
Get some wax paper or parchment paper and line the bottom of you pan with it. No need to spray it with non-stick spray or rub with butter. Just the paper will do to prevent any sticking.
- Add all ingredients to your food processor.
Pulse all ingredients in food processor on and off until the mixture is combined but not overly processed. I like mine still slightly hearty with little chunks of almonds slightly smaller than pea-size.
- Add any add-ins now.
After going through the food processor, you might want to add some other ingredients that you want to keep whole. For example, chocolate chips, nuts, seeds, or dried fruits. I mix these into the granola bar mixture by hand in this step.
- Press into your pan.
Pour your completed granola bar mixture into your prepared 8×8-inch pan. Make sure you spread it out into an even thickness.
- Set and Eat!
You can set these quicker by placing your pan in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Then enjoy!
FAQ for Chewy Granola Bar Recipe
If you like thick granola bars, this isn’t your recipe. These bars are about 1/2-inch thick after spreading. This is why I used an 8×8 inch pan. You don’t want to go any larger than this or they’ll be entirely too thin and you’ll have a difficult time spreading them. After setting for a bit, they are the perfect consistency. Not at all hard, but delightfully chewy.
Of course. In fact, I encourage you to add or take away whatever ingredients you prefer. This is a wonderful base recipe for your perfect granola bar concoction. Have fun with it and get the kids to help. They’ll love it! Use some of the suggestions I mention in the “Notes” section if you need any ideas for add-ins. I personally want to try adding in some cacao nibs and pecans.
If you have any leftover after making them, it’s best to wrap each one in plastic wrap or wax paper and store them in an airtight container. Eat them within a week if storing them at room temperature.
As I mentioned above, if you are keeping them airtight at room temperature, eat them within a week for optimum freshness.
And if you make a bigger batch or don’t eat them within a week, you can always wrap them and store them in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer to extend their shelf life. If freezing them, they’ll keep for up to 2 months. Just make sure to defrost at room temp for an hour or two before eating.
Chewy Granola Bar Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Food Processor optional
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups oatmeal
- 8 oz medjool dates about 10 dates
- 2 oz almonds roasted and unsalted
- 1 cup peanut butter creamy
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp salt optional
Instructions
- Line an 8×8 inch square pan with wax paper or parchment paper.
- Process all ingredients in food processor until mixture forms into a dough-like consistency. This is your base.
- Add any additional ingredients you'd like at this time (chocolate chips, chopped nuts, etc.).
- Press into the lined 8×8 inch square pan using your fingers or another sheet of wax paper.
- Refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to set. Enjoy!
Notes
- For additional add-ins, try any other nuts, sunflower seeds, dried fruits such as raisins, carob or chocolate chips, chopped dark chocolate bits or cocao nibs, etc.
Share with me: If you try these chewy granola bars, let me know what you think by commenting below. What add-ins do you prefer?
Other great recipes featuring the goodness of oats:
- Oatmeal Protein Bites (2 Ways)
- Cookie Butter Overnight Oats
- 5 Ingredient Healthy Banana Cinnamon Pancakes
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Kiran Campbell is a registered dietitian and entrepreneur with 13 years of experience. She has a degree in psychology as well as dietetics. She is also a proud member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ and its Cardiovascular Health and Well-being Dietetics Practice Group among others. Kiran proudly presents and promotes the most up-to-date, science-based nutrition information on all things heart-related. She aims to serve not only individuals with heart disease, but also those wanting to protect against it. Learn more about Kiran by visiting her About Page.