Easy Homemade Granola Bars
Chewy, chocolate-y, and perfect for back-to-school time, these easy homemade granola bars are so delicious and super easy to make.
It’s back-to-school time! While I know down South, kids have been back for a couple weeks now, my boys went back this past Monday. And I can report that things are going really well. Each one of them has come home excited about this new school year, liking their teachers already, and talking about seeing their friends again. It just makes this momma’s heart happy. My kids need routine and it’s so good to see them thriving (and not picking on each other 24/7 like during summertime!)
We’re packers. As in, we pack our lunches. And every year I start out all gung-ho with new contraptions and ideas of what to pack in their lunches as well as what containers, etc to use. I’ve become much more aware of our carbon footprint lately and ALL THE TRASH we throw away and I’m vowing to do better. So I’ve outfitted each of the boys’ lunchboxes with small containers that we will use all year long to put their food in. And it’s worked great so far. I made these bars with school in mind. So far, they’ve been enjoying them as after-school snacks. And they’re really perfect for that. They’re sweet but filling so eating one will satisfy both their sweet tooth as well as hold them off till dinner.
These bars are sweetened with Golden Barrel Light Brown Sugar as well as honey. The honey holds them together and makes them perfectly chewy. They’re seriously so good. And I love that you can make them how YOU want them–I added a bunch of chocolate chips to them and I love the texture (and taste!) of chocolate in every bite. There’s also peanut butter to add to the flavor and bump up the protein/filling factor. Feel free to add in your favorites. I didn’t have any nuts but next time I’ll add some chopped almonds to these as well. I also put in some shredded coconut because we’re coconut fans here.
I’m a big chewy granola bar fan. There’s a time and place for crunchy bars (yummy dipped in coffee!) but for these bars for my boys, I wanted them to be chewy. This recipe is almost a no-bake one. You do start by toasting the oats (and if you’re using nuts) in the oven for about ten minutes. But that’s it. Everything else is done on the cooktop (or microwave) and just pressed into a pan. By not baking the bars, this guarantees their chewiness. So if you’re a chewy granola bar fan like me, you’ve gotta try these!
I hope this back-to-school time finds you excited and ready for new things! Maybe you should start by making these bars…they’re a “new thing” that’ll for sure put a smile on your face. 🙂
- 5 cups old fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
- 2/3 cup Golden Barrel Light Brown Sugar
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 9x13" pan with parchment paper, sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside. Spread oats (and if using nuts) on a baking sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes or until toasted, stirring halfway through for even toasting.
- While oats are in oven, in a saucepan over medium heat, add butter, brown sugar, honey, and peanut butter. Stir occasionally until melted and sugar is dissolved.
- Take off heat and add in vanilla extract and salt, stirring until combined.
- After oats are toasted, pour them into a large bowl. Add shredded coconut to the oats. Pour hot butter/sugar mixture over top and stir to combine. Let set for 10-15 minutes before adding in chocolate chips. Stir in chocolate chips and pour mixture into prepared 9x13" pan. Using the back of a measuring cup, press mixture into pan. Place in refrigerator until hardened and cooled. Once cool, cut into bars. Store in airtight container at room temperature.
If adding nuts, use up to 1 cup of your choice chopped or sliced nuts.
Recipe adapted from Bless this Mess Please.
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