Homemade Granola bars are a great way to keep binges in line. We like keeping healthy homemade bars close to ensure we have a healthy energy source to satisfy any craving without going after unhealthy ones.
We promise to share a series of different tried and tested granola bar recipes with you, but we wanted to start with a simple HOW-TO recipe to provide you with the basic principles for making a granola bar and a healthy snack.
This is our 5-ingredient granola bar that works beautifully 100% of the time, just as our no-bake fig bars, are equally delicious!
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🧾 Ingredients
- Rolled oats or spelt
- Dates
- Walnuts
- Hazelnut butter
- Agave syrup
🔪 Instructions
As a base for these bars, we need dates – a great natural sweetener (optionally add mixed dried fruit such as raisins and/or goji berries). Then we add walnuts (or almonds), spelt (or oats), hazelnut butter, and agave syrup (or maple) and mix it all!
A 5 ingredient granola bar is easily made by baking spelt and walnuts for 15 minutes, thus adding an extra crunch and toasting flavor note, but it is unnecessary.
I love the fact that these super easy granola bars will keep well in the freezer for a long time.
Pit the dates; you can also use date paste instead.
Bake the Gluten-Free Spelt (Or Gluten-Free Oats) along with the Walnuts (or Almonds) for 15 minutes.
Blend the dates in the Food Processor until a ball is formed (approx 15 seconds).
Add the toasted spelt and Walnuts to the food processor and blend for additional 5 seconds.
Transfer everything to a bowl and add the Agave Syrup (or Maple) and the Hazelnut butter (or Peanut/Almond butter).
Lay parchment paper on the same baking tray and press down the mix with a spoon.
Place an additional parchment paper on top and press with a drinking glass.
Chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
Cut the bars.
🍶 Substitutions
You can change the hazelnut butter for peanut or almond butter, just swapping and using the exact quantities. Make sure to use Gluten-Free spelt and oats to keep your homemade granola bars gluten-free. It is a very easily customizable recipe. Both children and adults love them.
In addition to dates, you can make granola using other natural sweeteners such as raisins, dried apricots, and other mixed dried fruit.
You could even use the almond pulp leftovers from making almond milk in your energy power balls.
We usually make these granola bars with ingredients readily available in the pantry.
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 are the perfect bar for a healthy snack because they keep you full and don’t provide much sugar. 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.
❓ FAQ
For recipes where you plan to use rolled farro, the best substitute is Gluten-free marked Old fashioned Oats.
In other recipes like stews or salads, quinoa is a great substitute. It has a similar texture and flavor, and it can be cooked in the same way.
📚 More granola recipes
📚 More Healthy Snack Recipes
- Healthy Vegan Truffles (Power Balls)
- 3-ingredient Low-calorie Protein balls
- Homemade Vegan Granola Bars
- 3-Ingredient Guilt-Free Crispy Kale Savory Snack
- Vegan Protein Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Candied Walnuts
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
How to make homemade granola bars
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup spelt GF, or rolled gluten-free Oats, Organic, Gluten-Free, Farro (not GF)
- 1 ¼ cup dates pitted
- 1 cup walnuts
- ¼ cup hazelnut butter or peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon agave syrup
Optional:
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt skip if using salty nut butter
Directions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees ºF (175º C) and line a baking dish with parchment paper.
- Add your spelt (or oats) and walnuts to a bare baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes.
- Add dates to a food processor and mix until a soft ball forms — ~15-20 seconds. It should be sticky.
- Add the toasted spelt and walnuts and blend for additional 5 seconds.
- Transfer to a mixing bowl, add the agave syrup, hazelnut butter and salt. Use a spoon to mix thoroughly.
- Transfer to the prepared baking pan 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 a minimum of 15 minutes.
- Remove bars 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 Facts
🌡️ Food safety
- 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 points 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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Anna says
Me new favourite after-workout bars. I used almond butter instead of hazelnut and they turned out great. Next time will try with hazelnut.
Gus says
Hi Anna! Thanks for trying our bars and for your feedback. We're glad you liked them! We love almond butter too, let us know how you like the hazelnut butter version, next time to make them!
Katie says
I've been wanting to make my own homemade granola bars for years, and I've never found a recipe that was as good as the store bought kind. This recipe however is beyond delicious, and super easy to make! I love that it's naturally sweetener too!!
Gus says
Thank you for trying our recipe, Katie! We're so happy to hear that you loved it. Our goal is to provide recipes that are both delicious and easy to make, and we're glad we were able to do that for you. Thanks for the kind words, and keep cooking!
Jacqui says
I love making my own granola bar, so finding recipes like these are so fun! Very delicious and easy to follow
nancy says
these granola bars are better than store bought. I love the wholesome ingredients especially sweetened with dates. I always keep a stash by my desk!!
Gus says
Thank you for your kind words about our homemade granola bars, Nancy! We're glad you enjoy it as much as we do. 🙂
Chantry says
These are going to end up a weekly thing in our house! So good!
Ashley says
Delicious homemade granola bar recipe!
Michelle says
I've been on the hunt for the perfect granola bars, and this is the one! I tried a bunch of recipes but this was my favorite. Delicious!
Gus says
Thanks for trying our recipe Michelle; we're glad you enjoyed these healthy granola bar recipe!
Gina says
So much better than store bought. Great tutorial and love the substitution ideas!
Suzy says
We love making homemade granola bars! These were so easy to put together and that hazelnut butter was insanely good!
Jess says
I make homemade granola monthly for my kids. They love it and I love how easy it is!
Cathleen says
These granola bars are calling my name! I am definitely making this to bring to school, thank you so much for the recipe 😉
Matt says
This recipe is so much better than the store-bought bars loaded with questionable ingredients. Can’t believe how easy it was! Thanks!