Who doesn’t like to have healthy snacks around? There’s nothing wrong with snacking as long as you have Homemade Vegan Granola Bars around!
We all should be very conscious of planning our snacks to avoid succumbing to unhealthy cravings.
These homemade oatmeal bars make great quick vegan snacks. This time we made a 9-ingredient baked granola bar recipe, but you can increase or decrease the ingredients based on what you have readily available in your pantry.
Ingredients
We suggest always have some oats (rolled, gluten-free), nuts and seeds, dates or raisins, healthy sweetener (agave or maple syrup). That way you will be able to make different variations with whatever you have in your pantry in addition to these staple ingredients.
For this recipe you will need the following ingredients:
- Dates and dried fruit are great natural sweeteners, and dried red fruit also provides an acidity kick.
- Almonds (easily switched for walnuts)
- Rolled oats (or spelt)
- Peanut salted butter (or almond butter)
- Seeds (we used sesame and poppy seeds, feel free to use flax or chia seeds)
- Coconut flakes (or shredded coconut).
- Maple syrup (or agave) and mix it all!
See the recipe card for quantities.
Intructions
This homemade oatmeal bars recipe is easy to make. Just bake rolled oats and almonds for 15 minutes, thus adding an extra crunch and toasted flavor note, but it is not necessary.
Bake the Oats and Almonds (Optional, baking them will give the bars a more crunchy consistency and a toasty flavor).
Pit the dates and Blend along with the dried fruit in a Food Processor.
Mix in and blend the toasted Gluten-Free Rolled Oats and Almonds for a couple of seconds.
Transfer to a mixing bowl and add the maple syrup, peanut butter, poppy and sesame seeds, and coconut flakes. Use a spoon to mix thoroughly.
Lay back in the baking tray over parchment paper and press with a glass.
Chill in the freezer for 20 minutes.
Cut them in the desired shape.
Substitutions
You can change the peanut butter for almond or hazelnut butter, just swapping and using the exact quantities. Make sure to use Gluten-Free oats to keep your healthy cereal bar gluten-free. It is a very easily customizable recipe.
Other customization ideas
In addition to dates, you can make granola using other natural sweeteners such as raisins, dried apricots, and other mixed dried fruit.
We only change the dried fruit (sweetener), nuts (any kind of nut), creamy bonding ingredient (nut butter), and cereal (oats or spelt)—all wholesome and crunchy ingredients.
These Homemade Vegan Granola Bars make the perfect healthy snack because they keep you full and don’t provide much sugar. Instead, they have many fiber and complex carbs, so the energy is released in your body gradually instead of giving you a sugar rush leaving you hungry a little time later.
They also pack healthy fats and lots of fiber, and the quantities are easily adjustable to your needs.
Conveniency
This baked granola bar recipe works perfectly if you want to make it in batches because they keep well in the freezer for two months.
- Easily make your own.
- Take complete control of what comes into your mouth instead of trusting what comes in that packaging.
- Keep binges in line.
- Customize your flavors easily.
- Make them even if you are missing any types of ingredients.
- Use readily available mainstream ingredients.
- Adjust your budget accordingly.
- Make different kinds depending on your needs (i.e., morning energy, post-workout protein)
- Make them without failing (it’s tough to have them wrong)
- Quickly make them.
- Easily store them.
Should I continue?
More Healthy Snacks Recipes
If you try any of these recipes, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!
Recipe: Healthy Vegan Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup rolled oats Organic, Glute-Free
- 1 cup almonds
- 1 cup dates
- 2 oz dried fruit cranberries and raisins
- ¼ cup maple syrup or agave
- ¼ cup salted peanut butter or almond or hazelnut butter
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds or chia, flax seeds
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon coconut flakes
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 ºF (175º C) and line a baking dish with parchment paper.
- Add your oats and almonds to a bare baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes.1 ½ cup rolled oats, 1 cup almonds
- Add dates and dried fruit to a food processor and blend until a ball is formed — ~15-20 seconds. It should be sticky.1 cup dates, 2 oz dried fruit
- Add the toasted oats and almonds blend for 5 additional seconds1 ½ cup rolled oats, 1 cup almonds
- Transfer to a mixing bowl and add the maple syrup, peanut butter, poppy and sesame seeds, and coconut flakes. Use a spoon to mix thoroughly.¼ cup maple syrup, ¼ cup salted peanut butter, 1 tablespoon poppy seeds, 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, 1 tablespoon coconut flakes
- Transfer to the same parchment paper prepared baking pan used for baking and use a wooden spoon to disperse into an even layer. Cover with parchment paper and press down with a drinking glass to get the mixture packed tightly, preventing the granola bars from crumbling. Chill in the freezer for 20 minutes.
- Remove from the dish and chop into 12 bars. Store in a container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 2 months. They keep their shape best right out of the freezer or refrigerator.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Food safety
We sometimes take for granted that we have years (or decades) of cooking experience that the average visitor may not. Add to, or remove from, the list below with health and safety tips.
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full Nutritional Disclosure here.
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Beautiful pictures! Looks awesome!
Thank you Preethi. I am glad you like the pics!