Homemade Chocolate Chip Granola Bars: Easy, Healthy & Delicious Recipe

These Homemade Chocolate Chip Granola Bars are incredibly soft, chewy, and significantly better than their store-bought counterparts! This recipe is easy to follow and uses simple, wholesome ingredients like oats, almonds, honey, and flaxseed, making these granola bars a healthy and delicious snack any time of the day. Whether you’re looking for a quick breakfast, a satisfying afternoon treat, or a kid-friendly snack to pack in lunchboxes, these homemade granola bars are sure to become a family favorite.

Table of Contents

• Ingredients for Homemade Granola Bars
• How to Make Chocolate Chip Granola Bars at Home
• Essential Homemade Granola Bar Tips for Success
• Creative Variations to Elevate Your Granola Bars
• Optimal Storage Tips for Freshness and Longevity
• More Healthy Snack Ideas You’ll Absolutely Love
• Complete Homemade Chocolate Chip Granola Bars Recipe

As a busy parent juggling the demands of family life, I understand the constant challenge of finding healthy and tasty snacks that everyone will enjoy. That’s why I’m so excited to share this recipe for soft and chewy homemade granola bars. This quick and easy recipe yields over a dozen bars loaded with toasted oats and almonds, generously studded with mini chocolate chips, and enriched with flaxseed meal (a fantastic source of omega-3 fatty acids!).

These homemade granola bars are the perfect solution for busy parents on the go, health-conscious individuals seeking a nutritious snack, or anyone simply looking to satisfy those midday cravings. Read on for my easy and kid-approved recipe that will elevate your snack and school lunch game, keeping your family energized and fueled throughout the day.

Ingredients for Homemade Granola Bars

Creating these delicious granola bars starts with selecting the right ingredients. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need:

For a gluten-free version, simply use certified gluten-free oats and ensure that all other ingredients are also gluten-free.

• Old-fashioned oats: These form the foundation of the granola bars, offering a hearty texture and a good source of fiber. I prefer using old-fashioned oats for their characteristic chewy consistency, but you can substitute quick oats if you prefer a softer bar.
• Sliced almonds: These add a satisfying crunch and nutty flavor. You can also use other nuts or seeds based on your preference (see variations below!).
• Flaxseed meal: This is simply whole flaxseeds that have been ground into a fine powder. It’s readily available at most major supermarkets and takes the place of flour in this recipe, contributing to the chewy texture that makes these granola bars so irresistible. Flaxseed is also a nutritional powerhouse, packed with fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and lignans.
• Mini chocolate chips: Who doesn’t love chocolate chips? Just like store-bought chocolate chip granola bars, I like to use mini chocolate chips for easy distribution throughout the bars.
• Brown sugar: This adds just the right amount of sweetness with a hint of molasses flavor.
• Honey: This acts as both a sweetener and a binding agent, helping the ingredients stick together. Maple syrup is another excellent alternative that works well in this recipe.
• Olive oil: This keeps the bars moist and adds a subtle richness. Melted coconut oil is a fantastic alternative, offering a different flavor profile.
• Egg whites: These help bind the ingredients together, giving the oat bars their characteristic chewy texture.

Refer to the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and exact quantities.

How to Make Chocolate Chip Granola Bars at Home

Ready to ditch those store-bought granola bars and embrace the deliciousness of homemade? Preheat your oven, gather your ingredients, and get ready to enjoy soft and chewy granola bars made with love!

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C). Line a 13×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal. Lightly spray the parchment paper with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
2. Toast the oats and almonds. Spread the oats and almonds in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are lightly browned and fragrant. This toasting step enhances their flavor and adds to the overall texture of the granola bars. Transfer the toasted oats and almonds to a large mixing bowl and allow them to cool completely. Once cooled, stir in the flaxseed meal and mini chocolate chips.
3. Whisk together the wet ingredients. In a separate medium-sized bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, salt, honey, olive oil, and egg whites until well combined.

4. Combine wet and dry ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients in the large bowl. Mix well until all the ingredients are evenly coated.

Pro Tip: It’s crucial to firmly press the oat mixture into the prepared pan to ensure the bars hold their shape. The more compacted the mixture is, the less likely the bars will crumble when sliced.

5. Transfer and press the mixture. Transfer the granola mixture to the prepared baking pan. Use your hands (slightly dampened to prevent sticking) or a flat spatula to firmly and evenly press the mixture into the pan.
6. Bake. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the granola is dark golden brown on top. This indicates that the ingredients have properly bound together.
7. Cool and Slice. Remove the pan from the oven and let the granola cool completely in the pan for at least 2 hours. This allows the bars to firm up and prevents them from falling apart when sliced. Once completely cooled, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the granola rectangle from the pan and transfer it to a cutting board. Slice into 16 equal-sized bars.

Essential Homemade Granola Bar Tips for Success

Follow these key tips to ensure your homemade granola bars turn out perfectly every time:

• DON’T underbake the granola. Aim for a deep golden brown color to guarantee the ingredients are properly bound together.
• DO feel free to add your favorite mix-ins, such as dried fruits (raisins, cranberries, chopped dates), shredded coconut, or crystallized ginger.
• DON’T rush the cooling process. It’s essential to allow the bars to cool completely in the pan (for at least 2 hours) to ensure they hold their shape after slicing.
• DO consider portion control. These granola bars are delicious and healthy, but still contain sugar and calories. Enjoy in moderation!

Creative Variations to Elevate Your Granola Bars

This recipe is incredibly versatile and allows for endless customization. Here are some exciting variations to try:

• Add nut butter. Inspired by peanut butter granola bars, you can add any nut butter to this recipe! Peanut butter, almond butter, sunflower seed butter, or cashew butter would all be fantastic additions. Substitute 1/4 cup of the olive oil or honey with your favorite nut butter.
• Spice it up. Add a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice for a warm and cozy flavor.
• Experiment with nuts and seeds. Instead of sliced almonds, try chopped cashews, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, chopped walnuts, or pecans.
• Incorporate dried fruit. Dried raisins, cranberries, chopped dates, dried apricots, or chopped cherries would all work well.

Optimal Storage Tips for Freshness and Longevity

Proper storage is essential to maintain the freshness and texture of your homemade granola bars:

To keep your homemade granola bars fresh and easy to grab on the go, wrap them individually in parchment paper or wax paper. Beeswax wraps are another great eco-friendly option. This prevents the bars from sticking together and helps maintain their soft and chewy texture. Once wrapped, place the bars in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag and store them at room temperature. They will keep for up to a week.

For longer storage, they can be frozen for up to 3 months. Simply wrap them individually and place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. Thaw at room temperature for a few minutes before enjoying.

More Healthy Snack Ideas You’ll Absolutely Love

If you enjoyed this granola bar recipe, here are some other healthy snack ideas you might like:

• Healthy Breakfast Cookies – Start your day with these nutritious and delicious breakfast cookies.
• Healthy Overnight Oats with Chia – A quick and easy breakfast or snack option with added health benefits from chia seeds.
• Greek Yogurt Banana Muffins – A healthier twist on classic banana muffins using Greek yogurt.
• Healthy Homemade Mango Fruit Roll-Ups – A fun and healthy snack for kids and adults alike.
• No-Bake Peanut Butter Protein Balls – Energy-boosting protein balls that require no baking.

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Complete Homemade Chocolate Chip Granola Bars Recipe

Breakfast

Homemade Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Looking for soft and chewy granola bar bliss? Your search for a homemade take on the classic store-bought snack ends here! This quick and easy granola bar recipe yields over a dozen bars, packed with toasted oats, almonds, mini chocolate chips, and nutritious flaxseed meal (hello, omega-3’s!).

Author: Kelly Senyei

5 from 3 votes

Prep Time 10 mins