No one can resist these uber-healthy, honey-baked Homemade Granola Bars with Seeds!
Chock full of delicious nuts, dried fruits, and oats, this is one recipe that is sure to be on the baking rotation all year long. Chewy and soft homemade granola bars are a great way to get kids in the kitchen for some fun beginner cooking lessons. Plus it’s a great activity for parties or sleepovers. Pack a homemade granola bar into a lunchbox for a nut free snack that is school safe, and healthy too!
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Homemade Granola Bars
- Make these easy homemade granola bars that are low in sugar, high in protein and fiber, and big on taste!
- Nut-free makes them perfect for classroom sharing, these energizing snacks are perfect for recess, game-time, or playtime!
- These chewy bars are the best snacks for kids and grown-ups and everyone in between! Fiber and protein-packed!
- Lower calories than store-bought granola bars made with artificial sugars, preservatives, and colorings.
- Break up granola bars and sprinkle on top of ice cream, yogurt, oatmeal, pancakes, or waffles, or add chocolate chips and M&M candies to make trail mix!
What’s in Homemade Granola?
OATS This recipe calls for quick oats, but it would work to use old fashioned oats, as well. Steel cut oats will work, but should definitely be toasted in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes before mixing them in. They may yield a crunchier, less soft granola bar.
NUTS & SEEDS Sunflower seeds are a great source of protein and they make these bars taste great. Pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds) add even more flavor and nutrition, in addition to keeping the bars nut free.
DRIED FRUIT Dried fruits including cranberry raisins, apricot, and coconut are mixed in with the other ingredients along with the butter, sugar, and egg, plus a little honey and vanilla. The key to perfect granola bars is the right combination of textures, binders, and flavors!
Variations
- Nuts like almonds, walnuts, or pecans can be added but they won’t be considered “nut-free” and may pose a hazard to children with nut allergies—especially in classrooms. Chia and flax seeds are also fantastic, high nutrient options.
- Mix it up with mini chocolate chips, a scoop of peanut butter or other nut butter (sunflower butter and soy nut butter are both nut-free), some toasted coconut flakes, or some other dried fruits like raisins, dried cherries or blueberries. Even banana chips taste great.
How to Make Homemade Granola Bars
These bars will come out chewy but will become crunchy if left to dry out overnight:
- Toast oats on a baking sheet, then add the pepitas & toast them (per recipe below).
- Beat the eggs in a bowl & add sugars, honey, vanilla & cinnamon.
- Stir in seeds, coconut, dried fruit, & oats.
- Press mixture into prepared pan & bake, cool, & then cut.
PRO TIP: Spray pan release on your hands to keep the mixture from sticking to your fingers!
How to Store
Keep homemade granola bars in an airtight container or a zippered bag at room temperature and they will last about 7 days. Freeze in individual portions and pop one in a backpack, lunch box, or briefcase for an energizing snack at school or work!
Other Easy Snacks To Try!
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars – a sweet treat!
- Banana Granola Bars – another yummy snack.
- Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars – easy to make!
- Simple Sourdough Crackers – perfect for a snack attack.
Homemade Granola Bars with Seeds
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups quick oats
- 1 cup pepitas or almonds, chopped
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup brown sugar packed
- ½ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅔ cup butter melted
- ½ cup sunflower seeds
- ½ cup shredded coconut
- ½ cup chopped dried apricots or other dried fruit
- ½ cup dried cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 9x13 baking pan and line with parchment.
- Add oats to a baking sheet, and bake for 10 minutes. Stir, add pepitas, and bake 5 more minutes.
- Meanwhile, add eggs to a large bowl and beat lightly. Combine with brown sugar, honey, vanilla, and cinnamon. Slowly mix in melted butter.
- Stir in sunflower seeds, coconut, apricots, and cranberries. Add in about ¼ of the oat mixture and mix. Mix in remaining oat mixture.
- Very firmly press into baking pan by covering with parchment and using the back of a measuring cup. Bake for 13-18 minutes, until edges are slightly browned. Baking a little longer will help keep the bars from crumbling.
- Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove and cool on a wire rack (no need to remove from parchment. Cut into bars. Store in airtight container
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or garnish and is an estimate. It may change based on actual ingredients and cooking methods used.
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