These Homemade Granola Bars are a pantry staple. They’re loaded with almonds, dried cranberries, and mini chocolate chips. Kids love both making and eating these granola bars.
For only $4.37, you can make twelve Granola Bars, which is just $0.36 per serving.
We recommend this Homemade Granola, these Energy Balls, and these Dry Roasted Chickpeas for more snack options you can make at home.
Homemade Granola Bars
These granola bars are everything they should be: chewy, nutty, and slightly sweet. Making them at home is not only easy and affordable but also saves you from all the extra additives you find in the store-bought version.
The toasted oat flavor combined with the sweet chocolate chips makes these the perfect filling snack that will get you through your day. Granola Bars are perfect for the kids as a mid-morning snack, an afternoon snack, a breakfast on the go, or even as a snack at T-ball practice.
They are great in a sack lunch for us adults too! You can even change the flavor by adding in your own favorites such as coconut flakes, pecans, white chocolate chips, pretzels, etc.
We like to double the batch and make them for a snack on road trips because they travel really well. Freeze them beforehand, and you are all set! These Homemade Granola Bars really are the perfect snack for any stage of life you are in!
How to make Homemade Granola Bars:
STEP ONE: First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Then prep a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper and spray it with non-stick cooking spray. Also, line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
STEP TWO: Toast the oats and almonds on the baking sheet. After baking, pour them into a large bowl and set them aside.
STEP THREE: Then, in a small saucepan, add the honey, butter, and brown sugar. Cook over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved and butter is melted.
STEP FOUR: Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and salt. Then combine it with the oats and almonds and let it cool for 5-10 minutes.
STEP FIVE: Next, stir in the cranberries and chocolate chips. Press the mixture into the square baking dish and let chill for at least two hours.
STEP SIX: Finally, remove the granola bars from the pan and cut them into bars.
How long is it good for:
Serve and Store: Serve at room temperature. Also, store these in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days. Just note that the longer they sit, the harder they become.
Freeze: Freeze really dries out these homemade granola bars and makes them rock-hard. Therefore, we do not recommend freezing them.
Cook’s Tools:
- 9-inch square baking pan
- baking sheet
- small saucepan
- wooden mixing spoon
- measuring spoons
- large bowl
- measuring cups
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
Ingredients 100% matter to the success of our recipes. Below we’ve broken down each ingredient to include variations and substitutions.
- Old Fashioned Rolled Oats – Please use only old-fashioned rolled oats. They are hearty and can withstand being roasted (which adds a ton of flavor) and mixed with wet ingredients without getting gluey.
- Almonds – We like using whole almonds that are roughly chopped. Just don’t use sliced almonds because they tend to burn during the roasting process. Feel free to use any nut you’d like. Some of our other favorites are pecans and pistachios!
- Honey – We love the complex flavor honey adds to these homemade granola bars, but you can also use maple syrup or agave nectar.
- Brown Sugar – When the sugar melts with butter and honey, it creates the glue that holds these granola bars together. We find raw sugar or sugar substitutes either thin out the mixture too much or cause the bars to be hard rather than chewy when they chill. Light or dark brown sugar can be used, but please no sugar substitutes.
- Unsalted Butter – Salted butter is fine. Just omit the added salt in the recipe.
- Salt – Salt helps the subtle flavors of these granola bars pop, so don’t leave it out!
- Vanilla Extract – Please use pure vanilla extract when you can because nothing compares to its flavor. For a cost-effective option, learn how to make vanilla extract!
- Dried Cranberries – You can use any dried fruit. Thing dried cherries, raisins, chopped dried apricots, etc.
- Mini Chocolate Chips – We like using the mini size because they don’t overpower the granola bars. Alternatively, you can use mini M&M candies.
- Other Add-Ins – You can add other things like pretzel pieces, yogurt chips, sesame seeds, flax seeds, etc.
How to get the kids involved with this recipe:
Ages 2-3: Have your child help measure and pour the oats and almonds onto the baking sheet. He/she will have fun helping you spread them into an even layer.
Ages 4-5: Let your little one mix-in the dried cranberries and chocolate chips.
Ages 6-8: Teach your child to make these granola bars on their own with your guidance. They can mix the ingredients and press them into the baking dish to chill.
Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe, unsupervised, while you do the happy dance in the corner!
How do you get granola bars to stick together?
Think of the honey and the brown sugar as glue to hold the bars together. Without them, the bars will not form.
How much will this Homemade Granola Bars recipe cost to make:
RECIPE COST: $4.37
PRICE PER SERVING: $0.36
- 2 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats – $1.10
- 1/2 cup almonds – $1.24
- 1/4 cup honey – $0.33
- 1/4 cup brown sugar – $0.12
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter – $0.40
- 1/4 teaspoon salt – $0.01
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract – $0.17
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries – $0.66
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips – $0.34
To find out more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained.
Budget Tips:
We buy our oats and almonds at Costco in bulk. Then we always have them on hand to make these Granola Bars, this Homemade Granola, and these Energy Balls.
More Healthy Recipes:
- 15-Minute Skillet Tilapia with Artichokes and Tomatoes
- Chicken Vegetable Soup
- Dry Roasted Chickpeas
- Easy Oven Baked Salmon
- Energy Balls
- Grab and Go Yogurt Parfait Boxes
- Greek Mason Jar Salads
- Healthy Waldorf Salad
- Zucchini Taco Boats
- Homemade Granola
- How to Make a Green Smoothie
- Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
- Healthy Beans
- Italian Zucchini Boats
- Mango Banana Smoothie
- Mexican Chicken Rice Bowls
- Mexican Fruit Salad
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
- Watermelon Smoothie Recipe
Homemade Granola Bars
Recipe Cost 4.37 Serving Cost 0.36Equipment
- 9-inch square baking pan
- baking sheet
- small saucepan
- Wooden mixing spoon
- Measuring spoons
- large bowl
- measuring cups
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups old fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup almonds chopped
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup brown sugar packed
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup dried cranberries chopped
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
PREP OVEN AND PANS.
- Move the oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a few inches of overhang.
- Lightly spray the parchment paper and the pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
TOAST OATS AND ALMONDS:
- Add oats and almonds to the baking sheet, and shake into an even layer.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes until toasted and lightly browned.
- Remove the pan from the oven, pour the oats and almonds into a large bowl, and set them aside to cool.
MAKE GRANOLA BARS:
- Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, add honey, butter, and brown sugar.
- Cook over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved and the butter is melted.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and salt.
- Pour the mixture over the oats and almonds and stir until combined.
- Let the mixture cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Stir in cranberries and chocolate chips until thoroughly combined.
- Press the granola bar mixture into the prepared square baking dish.
CHILL:
- Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
TO FINISH:
- Remove the granola bars from the pan using the parchment paper overhang.
- Cut into bars.
Denay DeGuzman says
My husband, the one who specializes in making plain toast, was able to assemble this easy recipe! We’re packing these delicious homemade granola bars for a road trip.
Lisalia says
Yummy! These reminded me of the granola bars I had as a lunch snack in elementary and middle school… The difference is that these are so soft and so flavorful. Thanks for a yummy recipe that my family can enjoy.