Chewy granola bars made from scratch. If you love Quaker granola bars, this recipe is just what you need. Perfect for lunch boxes, after school, or even breakfast on the run.
The classic chewy texture we all love. Made with ingredients you can pronounce! I even have a great no-bake granola bar recipe too.
No need to buy boxed snack bars when you can easily make homemade healthy bars instead. Did you know you can make homemade muesli too?
RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for these healthy homemade granola bars can be found at the bottom of this post.
Haven’t you always wondered about ingredients? The mysterious scientific names are on labels. Do you ask yourself ‘how good is this for me”?
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.
If it’s good for the astronauts it’s good for us right? It was 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?
Ingredients For Chewy Granola Bars
I promise you can pronounce all of these!
- wheat berries
- flaxseed
- oatmeal
- almonds
- quinoa flakes
- cocoa
- applesauce
- vanilla
- spices
- dried cranberries
- unsweetened shredded coconut
Be sure to read the suggestions/recipe tips I have listed below.
Once you give this recipe a try, you will want to make more great granola recipes. Here are a few to try:
- Holiday Granola makes the perfect food gift for the holidays.
- This Artisan Granola Dust is the perfect topping for yogurt and more.
Making Homemade Granola Bars From Scratch
If you have never made granola bars from scratch, let me tell you they are super easy. Whether you choose the baked or no-bake versions, you will have healthy snacks in no time. Homemade does not mean hard.
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.
My philosophy is “Food doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does have to taste good”. Pure, simple ingredients create wonderful, tasty results.
The rundown of this making this recipe is:
- Prepare your baking pan.
- Dry ingredients in one bowl.
- Wet ingredients in another bowl.
- Combine the ingredients together.
- Place in a baking pan, and bake.
- Cool and cut into bars.
Full instructions are in the recipe card below.
Suggestion/Recipe Tips
Take this granola bar recipe and change it to what you have to work with, or what you like to eat. Whatever you have, just use it.
- Swap out the flaxseed for chia seeds or hemp hearts.
- Change the almonds to walnuts, or any nut you like. Pumpkin seeds are an excellent choice.
- Use raisins instead of cranberries. Dried blueberries are wonderful too. Chocolate chips always work for me.
- I used large flake oatmeal, but regular oatmeal will work.
- Applesauce can be plain or flavoured, homemade or store-bought. I used sweetened since I have not added any additional sugar to this recipe.
- For the spice, I used a chai blend, but use cinnamon, nutmeg, or your favorite blend.
I like unsweetened shredded coconut. Feel free to use sweetened if you like. Both will give you that chewy texture. If you love chewy coconut recipes, you need to give these easy no-bake chocolate coconut drop cookies a try.
If you like things sweeter, add a bit of honey or maple syrup to the mixture. You can decide on the amount.
Wheat berries can be replaced with whole wheat flour, especially if you are not combining the dry ingredients with a blender.
Quinoa flakes can be replaced with oat bran or additional oatmeal.
I placed all my dry ingredients in a blender. This creates a finer texture. You can mix everything by hand. The texture will be a little different, but the taste will be the same.
You might consider chopping the nuts and dried by hand before adding them to the mixture. If the ingredients are too large, the bars tend to fall apart.
Store in the fridge. They will last for about a week. You can also freeze these bars. Thaw before eating. Just leave them on the counter for about 20 minutes.
Be sure to CLICK THE SUBSCRIBE BUTTON located in the TOP MENU.
Looking for more healthy snack ideas? Give these a try:
Homemade Chewy Granola Bars
Ingredients
For the Dry mix:
- ¼ cup wheat berries (you can use whole wheat flour if you wish)
- ¼ cup flaxseeds
- ¾ cup old fashioned oats
- ½ cup whole almonds
- ¼ cup quinoa flakes
- 2 tablespoons cocoa
For the Wet mix:
- 1 ⅓ cups applesauce (I used strawberry flavoured) (homemade or bought)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon chai seasoning blend spice (you can add any spice you like here)
Add Ins:
- ½ cup cranberries (and a bit to sprinkle on top)
- ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut (and a bit to sprinkle on top)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F.Spray an 8×8 inch baking dish with cooking spray, and line with parchment.
- Using a blender, combine the dry ingredients (wheat berries, cocoa, oats, quinoa flakes, flaxseeds and almonds). Blitz until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
- Place this mixture in a bowl.
- In a bowl combine the wet ingredients (applesauce, vanilla, & chai spice).
- Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture, and combine well.
- Add the cranberries and coconut, and mix to combine.
- Pour the mixture into the baking dish, and spread evenly in the dish.
- Sprinkle with additional cranberries and coconut.
- Bake for approximately 25 minutes.
- Remove from oven, and let cool in pan.
- Once cool, remove from pan and place on a cutting board. Cut into 12 (or whatever size you like).
Sarah @ Champagne Tastes
I haven’t eaten granola bars recently because the ingredients list on them in soooo long! I’ll have to give these a try- I don’t know why I haven’t made my own before!
Homemade & Yummy
They really are so easy to make….and you know what is in them.
Megan Marlowe
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!
Homemade & Yummy
They are super chewy delicious.
Leslie-Anne
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!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes….you can make these with just about anything.
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day
I haven’t heard anyone mention Tang in I don’t know how long! That is so funny. I definitely prefer your ingredients to the stuff I can’t pronounce. 🙂
Homemade & Yummy
OMG Tang….I don’t even think I could drink it now.
Byron Thomas
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! 🙂
Homemade & Yummy
Dates would be great too.
Stephanie@ApplesforCJ
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.
Homemade & Yummy
No I could not think of drinking it either. I had these for breakfast this morning.
Natalie Browne
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?
Homemade & Yummy
Absolutely would work with pumpkin seeds….in fact they would be delicious.
Julie | Bunsen Burner Bakery
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.
Homemade & Yummy
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.
Daniela Anderson
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!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes I do find store bought to be very sweet, and overly hard.
Sarah
These sound like a great morning snack! Also perfect for a hike!
Homemade & Yummy
Perfect for both….hope you give them a try.
Pam
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.
Homemade & Yummy
So easy. Nutrition does not have to be hard…simple is best.
Adriana Lopez Martn
Love granola but have never tried it soft and chewy. Your recipe really looks delicious I would like to have a bite now. Great for pairing with my morning coffee. And all those almonds yummy for my tummy.
Homemade & Yummy
I love these for breakfast. Hubby loves them when he gets home from work.
Sara
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!
Homemade & Yummy
HAHAH….yeah Tang was the thing back then. Not sure I could drink it now. The ingredients in these bars are so healthy.
Maresa | Breakfast for Dinner
These look so healthy! I love that some of the mixing can be done in a blender. Definitely going to make some of these for quick breakfasts 🙂
Homemade & Yummy
Yes…I love them for breakfast too. The blender does an awesome job mixing up the ingredients.
Veena Azmanov
I love that you have such a healthy combination and that you used apple sauce instead of peanut butter. I use prefer apple sauce too! Can’t wait to try this
Homemade & Yummy
The applesauce works great. Keeps them moist and chewy.