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Healthy Homemade Soft Chewy Granola Bars from Scratch

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Fructooligosaccharides, what the heck it that? These Healthy Homemade Soft Chewy Granola Bars from Scratch are made with ingredients you CAN pronounce. Perfect for lunch boxes, after school, or even breakfast on the run. 

Close up of granola squares on the table.

Haven’t you always wondered about ingredients? The mysterious scientific names that are on labels. Do you ask yourself ‘how good is this for me”? After all when you LOVE granola as much as I do, especially crunchy granola, you want to know what is in it right?

Did you study chemistry in school? I did. I loved experiment day when we would put things together in a test tube. Watching to see if there is a reaction. Looking under the microscope to see cell formation. What did we create today?

Recipe ingredients layered in the blender before getting blitzed.

When I was a kid Tang was the popular drink at the time. In fact, even the astronauts drank it in space. At least that is what they told us in the commercials.

BE MINDFUL OF LABELS

If it’s good for the astronauts it’s good for us right? It was a like a science experiment in a glass. You add this orange powder to water, give it a mix, and viola, you have orange juice. Who needs fresh oranges when you can have this?

I don’t know about you, but when I have to use a dictionary to read food labels, something is wrong. What is fructooligosaccharides anyway? I had to even triple check the spelling of this one.

Granola batter in the baking pan ready to go into the oven.

Just have a quick glance at food labels. I bet you will be surprised as to what is really on them. Especially on the “healthy” food choices. Fructooligosaccharides was actually on a granola bar label.

HOMEMADE FROM SCRATCH

Do the words “made from scratch” scare you? I was watching an episode of Desperate Housewives the other day as I used the treadmill. Yes I know, that show is over, but I have the dvd’s…good shows never come to an end. Bree had just made a batch of cookies. She did stress the fact that they were made from scratch.

My mom and baba made everything from scratch. Perhaps it was because when I was a kid, there were not as many options in the grocery stores. Yes there were cookies, cereals, chocolate bars and potato chips. Certainly not to the extent they are today.

You too can make these Healthy Homemade Soft Chewy Granola Bars from Scratch.

PURE, SIMPLE INGREDIENTS

My philosophy is “Food doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does have to taste good”. Pure, simple ingredients create wonderful, tasty results.

Close up of the granola bars cut into squares.

Honestly, the simpler the better. Like these bars for instance. Throw some wheat berries, oatmeal, quinoa flakes, flaxseed, almonds and cocoa in a blender. Blitz until it resembles breadcrumbs.

Put the mixture into a bowl. Add some applesauce, cranberries, coconut, sweetener, and spice. Mix, put in a baking dish. Bake, cool, cut…eat.

I didn’t notice any mysterious scientific terms in the ingredients, did you?

2 pieces of the chewy granola bars with almonds and cranberries sprinkled around, more bars on a plate in the background.

Another great, quick and totally delicious recipe (that my grandson goes bonkers over) is my Banana Chocolate Roundup. 3 simple ingredients that make a great after school snack, or even dessert.

EXPERIMENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

Are you one of those people that have to follow a recipe exactly? I get it, some people are like that. They may not feel they have the confidence in the kitchen to experiment. They are scared to screw things up.

I am the opposite. I will look at a recipe and decide what I want to change. Sometimes it’s because I don’t like a particular ingredient in the list. Other times it’s because I don’t have the particular ingredient in the cupboard.

Take this granola bar recipe and change it to what you have to work with, or what you like to eat. Swap out the flaxseed for chia seeds. Change the almonds to walnuts. Use raisins instead of cranberries. Whatever you have, just use it.

Close up of granola bar with a bite out of it.

Leave the mysterious scientific ingredients in the chemistry lab. Food should be made with ingredients you can pronounce (and spell).  These Healthy Homemade Soft Chewy Granola Bars from Scratch are just that. Give them a try and see how easy they are to make. 

THINGS YOU CAN USE TO MAKE THIS RECIPE (affiliate links):

Healthy Homemade Soft Chewy Granola Bars from Scratch long pin image.

For another healthy, simple ingredient snack, try my Superfood Trail Mix Bites.

Healthy Homemade Soft Chew Granola Bars from Scratch. Nutrition with ingredients you can pronounce. | homemadeandyummy.com

Healthy Homemade Soft Chewy Granola Bars from Scratch

Course: Easy, Healthy, Snack
: Healthy, Nurtitious
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Author: Homemade & Yummy

Nutrition should not sound like a science experiment. These Healthy Homemade Soft Chewy Granola Bars are made with ingredients that you CAN pronounce.

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Ingredients

For the Dry mix:

  • 1/4 cup wheat berries (you can use whole wheat flour if you wish)
  • 1/4 cup flaxseeds
  • 3/4 cup old fashioned oats
  • 1/2 cup whole almonds
  • 1/4 cup quinoa flakes
  • 2 tbsp cocoa

For the Wet mix:

  • 1 1/3 cups applesauce (I used strawberry flavoured) (homemade or bought)
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp chai seasoning blend spice (you can add any spice you like here)

Add Ins:

  • 1/2 cup cranberries (and a bit to sprinkle on top)
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (and a bit to sprinkle on top)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350º F.

    Spray an 8x8 inch baking dish with cooking spray, and line with parchment.

  2. Using a blender, combine the dry ingredients (wheat berries, cocoa, oats, quinoa flakes, flaxseeds and almonds). Blitz until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.

  3. Place this mixture in a bowl.

  4. In a bowl combine the wet ingredients (applesauce, vanilla, & chai spice).

  5. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture, and combine well.

  6. Add the cranberries and coconut, and mix to combine.

  7. Pour the mixture into the baking dish, and spread evenly in the dish.

  8. Sprinkle with additional cranberries and coconut.

  9. Bake for approximately 25 minutes.

  10. Remove from oven, and let cool in pan.

  11. Once cool, remove from pan and place on a cutting board. Cut into 12 (or whatever size you like).

  12. ENJOY!!

Recipe Notes

Keep in an airtight container in the fridge. I prefer eating them at room temperature, so I will take a piece or two out of the fridge prior to eating, just to get the chill out. These are great for lunch boxes, after school snacks, or even breakfast on the run. 

For another totally healthy snack, try my Superfood Trail Mix Bites.

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Comments

  2. Fructooligosaccharides are quite beneficial for gut health, they are prebiotics – “nondigestible food ingredients that beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of bacteria in the colon”. In other words, they are the necessary “food” for the good bacteria (probiotics) to feed on.

    Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are naturally found in certain foods like garlic, onion, Jerusalem artichokes, and chicory root and they target the microbe bifidobacteria. So if you are taking a probiotic with the bifidobacteria strain you will want to eat fructooligosaccharides to feed that probiotic.

    Without prebiotics, probiotics can’t survive.

    Anyhoo, I totally get your point 😉 I am a functional medicine nutritionist so my nutrition nerd radar went off with FOS as an example of an unpronounceable “ingredient”. We should 100% stay away from chemicals and bizarro food like products. I don’t know if you were referring to a specific product that contained FOS? Or just using that as an example of something we can’t pronounce and thus shouldn’t eat? but FOS is beyond safe, beneficial in fact, unless you have SIBO, then that’s a whole other scenario!

    Ok… stepping down off my soap box to say your granola bars look delicious! and real food for the win (just that FOS is also real food) 😉

    Reply

    • HAHAH…well thanks for the response. Yes I was referring to FOS as “unpronounceable”….and most people would have no clue that it is actually good. My point is that we really should pay attention to labels….most times you have no clue what is in food…even after reading the label.

      Reply

  8. I’m adding this recipe to my collection of homemade granola bars I have to try. For some reason, I keep thinking about making granola bars for my kids but not following through on it. I bet they would love a chewy version. Homemade everything is definitely the best.

    Reply

  10. I’m a lot more conscious of what’s in my food now than I was 10 years ago. I also get worried when there are a tonne of ingredients on labels that I’ve never heard of/can’t pronounce but from the research I’ve done, quite a few of the more scientific names aren’t actually chemicals, just the scientific names for regular, naturally occurring ingredients. Not sure why companies feel the need to do that though. Life would be so much easier if they used layman’s terms on the nutrition panel lol

    Reply

  11. I like the idea of using a chai spice blend! I”d never thought of using that in baking, but it sounds delicious! And yes, I make most things from scratch, and have for years.

    Reply

  12. I get very excited when I can transform anything that is store bought and make it with whole some ingredients with no additives and call it ‘made from scratch’. I always get a look from my friends when I say it, but it gives me this satisfaction that I am feeding the right things to my young boys. I love your bar and this is something I would try. I have made the no bake version of granola bars, but this looks very doable!

    Reply

  14. I am just like you about changing a recipe. I used to be a recipe follower to a T but I found it so much easier and sometimes tastier to deviate and add my own touches! These oatmeal bars look so yummy that I don’t think I’ll change a thing!

    Reply

  16. It always drives me crazy and makes me nervous when I can’t pronounce or even know one of the ingredients in my food. I am all about simple, homemade, nutritious and delicious. This recipe is perfect! Will be making it for my boys.

    Reply

  19. Ok, I confess I’m always scared of desserts and bars because of their fat, sugar and flour contents but this post really is an eye opening one! None of the unhealthy usual stuff in there! I’ll definitely try it out! Plus it looks irresistible!

    Reply

  22. I absolutely love that this has wheat berries, flax seed and quinoa! That’s a whole lot of healthy and I’m totally digging that they are soft. I prefer soft granola bars over hard ones!

    Reply

  23. These look perfect for after school snacks for the kids. I don’t love store bought granola bars because of some of the not so optimal ingredients but these looks great and I like to be able to use what I have!

    Reply

  25. Such a delightful looking snack! I love chewy granola bars, but I always make the with dates – as the binding agent. I have no problem with that, but dates can be rather expensive. Thanks for the alternative! 🙂

    Reply

  26. These sound really good for breakfast! I couldn’t agree with you more..if you can’t read the ingredients probably safe to say you don’t want to eat it. Is Tang still around? I remember that when I was younger but wouldn’t even think of drinking it now.

    Reply

  27. It’s really sad the things in the grocery stores, marketed to kids, that have a ridiculous amount of junk in them. My kids usually get homemade muffins with healthy things snuck into them, lol. Or they get granola bars that I’ve obsessively poured over the ingredient list of. Do you think this recipe would work, minus the nuts? Maybe, pumpkin seeds instead?

    Reply

  28. Haha! As an actual scientist, I always think it’s funny when people say things like “if you can’t pronounce the ingredients, don’t eat it.” Fructooligosaccarides? Not only do I know what the are, I don’t have to double check the spelling. 😉 And interestingly, fructooligosaccarides may actually be beneficial to your health! But I totally get your point – homemade IS always better. It’s so nice to control what goes into what you make, especially when you see how much sugar so many commercial granola bars contain. Yikes! Love the addition of flaxseed and quinoa in your version.

    Reply

    • HAHAH….a scientist. I had to look at the spelling several times. I do agree fructooligosaccarides (FOS) may have a place in nutrition, but many people would not know what it is.

      Reply

  29. If find myself munching on snacks all the time, and do love some good healthy granola bars. Unfortunately, most store-bought ones are anything but healthy, too much sugar added and some hidden nasty ingredients. I love the idea of a home-made one that can be enjoyed anytime of the day. The perfect snack recipe!

    Reply

  31. I love granola bars, but so many of them aren’t even that good for you. MAking your own bars like this is great because you know exactly what went into it.

    Reply

  33. Oh my gosh we grew up drinking Tang too and thought it was the best thing ever. And you’re right…it’s pretty sketchy when you think of what’s actually in it! These granola bars on the other hand look delicious and the ingredients are all amazing!

    Reply

    • HAHAH….yeah Tang was the thing back then. Not sure I could drink it now. The ingredients in these bars are so healthy.

      Reply

  37. I remember Tang! I used to like it, but I don’t think I would anymore. Isn’t it handy to have nutritious “made from scratch” granola bars for portable snacks!

    Reply

  49. With this recipe I can kill two best with one stone, lOL. I can treat my sweet tooth and eat healthy as well, didn’t think I would ever say that. Thanks a lot Gloria!

    Reply

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