Healthy Homemade Granola Bars (4 Ingredients, 7g Protein)

These Homemade Granola Bars are easy, no-bake granola bars made with 4 basic ingredients. You can add a few more ingredients for flavors like chopped nuts, dried fruits, or a touch of vanilla.

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I love simple granola bars, like my Homemade Gluten-Free Granola Bars and No-Bake Granola Bars, but today I wanted to make the simplest possible healthy version.

Ingredients and Substitutions

You only need 4 base ingredients to make these bars. Here’s how to pick them.

• Peanut Butter – This acts as the binding agent that holds the granola bars together while contributing creaminess, healthy fats, and protein. You can substitute with almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter if you prefer a different flavor or need a nut-free option. Avoid varieties with added sugars or extra oils that can affect the texture of your bars.
• Maple Syrup – This provides a natural sweetness and helps moisten and bind the ingredients without refined sugars. Alternatives like agave syrup or coconut nectar work well if you want to experiment with flavor nuances, but steer clear of any refined sweeteners to keep the recipe wholesome.
• Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats – Serve as the hearty, fiber-rich base of your bars, giving them structure and a satisfying chew. Roasting the oats beforehand enhances their natural nutty flavor and crunch, but it’s optional. If you prefer, you can use raw oats, though roasted oats tend to be easier to digest and deliver a more robust flavor.
• Flaxseed Meal – To add valuable fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and helps firm up the bars by contributing to their structure. It can be swapped with ground chia seeds if you desire a similar texture and nutritional boost, but whole flaxseeds won’t blend as smoothly into the dough.

Once you’ve picked the base ingredients, you can choose any of the optional add-ins to vary the flavors of your bars.

• Mini Chocolate Chips – To add rich, chocolaty flavors and a crunchy texture. They’re best added after the roasted ingredients have cooled to prevent melting. For variety, you might try chopped vegan dark chocolate or cacao nibs.
• Chopped Almonds – Introduce an extra crunch and a naturally nutty taste that pairs well with the oats and peanut butter. You can also use other chopped nuts such as walnuts, pecans, or roasted cashews to mix up the flavor profile.
• Vanilla Extract – Vanilla boosts the overall flavor by adding a warm note that ties all the ingredients together. If vanilla isn’t available, a dash of almond extract could work as an alternative, though it will impart a slightly different flavor.

How to Make Healthy Homemade Granola Bars

This is a really easy recipe to make. Here’s how in pictures.

If you want to roast your rolled oats, bake them on a baking sheet for 12 minutes at 325 °F (160 °C).

Combine the peanut butter and maple syrup while the oats are cooling.

incorporate the oats into the mixture as well as the flaxseed meal and pour the chocolate chips when the mixture is cold.

Press the mixture in a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and leave it in the fridge for 3 hours.

Carine’s Tips

I have a few more tips to help you make the very best bars!

• Pre-Roast for Flavor: Roast your oats—and any optional chopped nuts—until they turn a light golden brown. This not only deepens their flavor but also improves digestibility and adds a crunch to your bars.
• Cool Ingredients Before Mixing: Allow the roasted oats (and nuts) to cool for at least 10 minutes—or up to an hour if adding chocolate chips—to prevent the chocolate from melting and altering the texture of your mixture.
• Mix Thoroughly: When combining the peanut butter, maple syrup, and optional vanilla extract, stir until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Then fold in the oats and flaxseed meal to create a uniformly sticky dough that holds together well.
• Press Firmly: Pack the sticky dough firmly into your lined loaf pan, using the back of a spatula to ensure an even, compact layer. This helps the bars hold their shape once they set.
• Allow Time to Set: Refrigerate the pan for at least 3 hours—or overnight if possible—so the bars have ample time to firm up. They’ll become easier to cut and develop a better texture the longer they set.
• Customize Your Mix: Feel free to add your favorite extras like mini chocolate chips, chopped almonds, dried fruits, or even a handful of seeds (hemp, sunflower, or pumpkin) to tailor the bars to your taste. Just fold these in after your base ingredients have been combined.
• Plan Ahead: Consider roasting your oats (and nuts) the day before to save time when assembling the bars. Pre-prepped ingredients streamline the process for quick meal prep.
• Experiment with Flavors: Play around with mix-ins—like swapping peanut butter for another nut or seed butter—to create endless flavor variations. A combination of coconut, dried cranberries, and a pinch of cinnamon, for instance, can yield a tropical twist.

More Granola Bar Recipes

Homemade Gluten-Free Granola Bars

Peanut Butter Granola Bars

No-Bake Granola Bars

Quinoa Bars

Healthy Homemade Granola Bars

These Homemade Granola Bars are easy, no-bake granola bars made with 4 basic ingredients. You can add a few more ingredients for flavors like chopped nuts, dried fruits, or a touch of vanilla.

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Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Fridge: 3 hours hrs

Total Time: 3 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Servings: 8 bars

Calories: 194.5 kcal

Author: Carine Claudepierre

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Ingredients

US Customary – Metric

• ▢ ½ cup Peanut Butter - (note 1)
• ▢ ⅓ cup Maple Syrup - (note 2)
• ▢ 1 ¼ cup Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats - (note 3)
• ▢ 3 tablespoons Flaxseed Meal - (note 4)

Optional

• ▢ ¼ cup Mini Chocolate Chips
• ▢ ¼ cup Chopped Almonds
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Instructions

• Line a 9-inch x 6-inch loaf pan with a large piece of parchment paper so it hangs on the sides. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 325 °F (160 °C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
• Pour oats and nuts on the prepared baking sheet. Spread it in a single layer and roast it for 12 minutes, stirring after 6 minutes.
• Let the oats cool down for 10 minutes at room temperature if you don't add chocolate chips to the bars. If you plan to add the chocolate chips, let it cool down for 1 hour at room temperature or the warm oats/nuts mixture will melt the chocolate chips when you fold them into the batter.
• In a large mixing bowl, add peanut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla extract if used.
• Stir with a rubber spatula until smooth and creamy.
• Stir in the oats and flaxseed meal, until it forms a sticky dough.
• If you want to add chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or any dried fruits, fold them in now and stir to incorporate.
• Place the sticky batter in the pan, and press firmly with the back of a rubber spatula to pack into the pan.
• Pop the pan in the fridge for at least 3 hours, or overnight before cutting. They set and harden in the fridge with time.
• Remove the bar from the pan and transfer them to a chopping board. Use a sharp knife to cut into 8 bars.

Notes

Note 1: You can also swap for almond butter or sunflower seed butter if nut-free.

Note 2: You can use other liquid sweeteners like agave syrup or coconut nectar.

Note 3: Feel free to use raw oats if preferred. I digest roasted oats better and the flavors and crunch is way better roasted.

Note 4: Flaxseed meal firms up the bar adding fiber and texture. You can swap for ground chia seeds.

Note 5: If you add chocolate chips, your oats and nuts must be cold or they will melt the chocolate chips in the batter.

Storage: Store the bars in a sealed container in the fridge for up to days or freeze them for up to 1 month. Thaw it in the fridge the day before.

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Nutrition

Serving: 1bar | Calories: 194.5kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 5.8g | Fat: 10.2g | Saturated Fat: 1.9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4.5g | Sodium: 71.9mg | Potassium: 188.3mg | Fiber: 2.8g | Sugar: 9.9g | Vitamin C: 0.02mg | Calcium: 35.8mg | Iron: 1mg | Magnesium: 57.8mg | Phosphorus: 123.5mg | Zinc: 1.1mg