Granola Bars also known as muesli bar or oat bar is a perfect grab and go breakfast when you don’t have much time on hand. Simple protein packed bars made with oats, flax seeds, nuts and dried fruits makes a satisfying snack or quick fix breakfast just like my homemade granola. In this blog post I have shared 4 flavours of granola bar recipes that you will love. Learn how to make soft & chewy granola bars with step by step pictures and video.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Granola Bars
We always stock upon Nature valley granola bars in the pantry. It is a must have snacks for a quick grab and go breakfast. My kids like to pack it in their snack bag for school. Most of the time I try to make these bars at home, because I can control the ingredients that goes in to my bars. The advantage in making Homemade granola bars is we can sneak in as much ingredients as we like to make it more substantial and healthy. If you love my homemade granola recipe, you will enjoy this bars too.
In this recipe for granola bars, I have shared 4 variations and flavours you can make your bars. Also I have added tons of options to give idea for you.
About Granola Bars
Granola bars is a rectangle shaped snack bar which is made of oats, dried fruits, nuts and seeds. These ingredients are rich in nutrition and fibre which helps to satisfy hunger for a while. Snack bars are great option to include in lunch box.
One of the most popular flavour in a muesli bar is honey nut, coconut cranberry, chocolate chip granola bars, peanut butter granola bars. This recipe for granola bars is so flexible you can adapt it as per your taste. These taste great, easy to make, doesn’t fall apart and holds together perfectly.
This recipe for granola bar is a no bake version and it taste fantastic. It is chewy and soft at the same time. Super delicious and convenient breakfast option. The ingredients are so simple but all the right ones. You can add more or less as per your needs. Chocolate chips, chia seeds, dried cherries, apricots makes a wonderful add-ons. Makes sure you check out perfect oatmeal, oats smoothie for more breakfast ideas.
Granola Bars Ingredients
Oats
Oats form the base for any granola bars. You can use either use rolled oats or quick oats for making this. I prefer rolled oats because it is less processed and make much more filling wholesome granola bars.
Brown Sugar
In this no bake granola bar, brown sugar is used for sweetness and create the sticky sauce that makes the bars set.
Honey
Honey added with brown sugar prevents the syrup from getting crystallized. It makes the sauce more thick and glossy which helps the bar to set properly.
Butter
Unsalted butter is cooked with brown sugar and honey to make the sauce for granola bars.
Dried fruits & Nuts
Add lots of mixed nuts and dried fruits in Granola bar for creating a nutty and chewy bar. Not only it makes it tasty but adds so much texture to the granola bar.
Optional
Vanilla extract, salt, cocoa powder, coconut is used in granola bars for more nutrition. You can add chia seeds, flax seeds in granola bars for taste. Granola bars can be dipped in melted dark chocolate for a chopped dipped granola bar.
Which Oats to Use for Granola Oats Bar
There are wide variety of oats available in the market. Some of the most popular ones are rolled oats (old fashioned oats), quick oats (instant oats) and steel cut oats. For granola bars it is recommended to use quick oats or rolled oats.
I prefer using rolled oats or quick cooking oats in my bars. Rolled oats is much healthier.
Four Steps Granola Bar Recipe (Muesli Bar)
This particular recipe for muesli bar is as simple as 1-2-3-4. Follow my recipe and make a healthy snack for you and your loved ones.
- Toasting Nuts & Oats
- Making Sauce using brown sugar, honey and butter.
- Combining Sauce with toasted oats and nuts.
- Spoon the mixture into pan and chilling in fridge to set.
Craving More Oats & Granola Recipes, Check out these!
- Homemade Granola – Classic, Wholesome, Fool Proof Granola to Make.
- Baked Oatmeal – Assemble the day before and bake straight out of the fridge.
- Oatmeal – You get so many flavour options in this one recipe.
- Granola Muffins – Warm muffins to start your day.
Expert Tips & Tricks
Toasting Oats & Nuts – take your time to toast your oats and nuts for flavour. toasting oats and nuts adds nutty taste to your granola bars.
Making Syrup – since this is a no-bake granola bar recipe, you have to get your syrup on point. Cook butter, brown sugar and honey till it gets syrup and sticky. Honey, butter and brown sugar syrup makes the glue for your bars. The syrup combined with your oats and nuts will form a thick mixture also helps setting up the granola bars.
Pressing the bars – when you are adding the oat mixture to the mould. Make sure you press them as firm as you can. It allows the mixture to stick together and firm up in one piece as it chills.
Setting Time – Make sure your granola bar sets in the fridge for few hours. This makes them firm enough to cut clean bars.
How to Make Granola Bars (Stepwise Pictures)
The method for making granola bars is easy and very simple. You have to toast your nuts, flax seeds and oats. Make a sticky sauce using butter, honey, brown sugar. Combine the toasted oats with the sticky sauce and transfer to moulds. Refrigerate, slice and serve.
Here is how you make Soft & Chewy Honey Nut Granola Bars
1)Heat 1 tbsp of butter in a pan. This is to toast your nuts. Alternatively you can use your oven to toast nuts. Spread nuts on a baking tray and place it inside a 180 degree C preheated oven for 10 minutes and you have toasted nuts. But I prefer to toast my nuts in some butter for flavour.
2)I used cashews, pistachios and almonds. Chop them fine and toast them for 2 to 3 minutes stirring constantly. Then you can remove it to a plate.
3)To the same pan add in rolled oats. Instead of rolled oats you can use instant quick oats as well.
4)Add in flax seeds to the oats.
5)Roast oats and flax seeds for 2 to 3 minutes till the oats gets fragrant. Remove this to a bowl and set aside.
6)Now lets make a sticky sauce. Melt butter in the same pan.
7)Add in brown sugar.
8)Add in honey.
9)Mix this well and cook on low medium heat till the sauce bubbles up, it will take around 3 to 4 minutes.
10)At this point you can add in salt. Salt enhances the taste in a granola bar.
11)Add in vanilla extract and mix well.
12)Add in the toasted finely chopped nuts. At this point you can add any dried fruits you like.
13)Add in the toasted oats.
14)Use a spatula to mix oats and nuts with the honey butter sauce. Mix everything well.
15)Spoon this into a foil or parchment lined baking tray and smooth the top evenly. Press firmly and pop this into the fridge and let it set for 2 to 3 hours.
16)Un mould the bars from the tray on to a cutting board.
17)Use a sharp knife to slice into bar and enjoy. If you are not eating this right away you can store it in an air tight container for few days at room temperature or in fridge.
For Making Coconut Cranberry Bars
18) To the same recipe, I used cranberries and coconut instead of nuts. You don’t need to toast coconut and cranberries. instead add it to the honey brown sugar sauce.
19)Add in toasted oats. This time I used quick cooking instant oats and toasted it in a dry pan for few minutes.
20)Mix this really well.
21)Spoon this into a parchment lined pan and refrigerate for few hours.
22)Once set you can slice and serve.
For Making Peanut Butter Bars
- ½ cup peanut butter
- 4 tbsp butter
- 4 tbsp honey
23) Take honey, peanut butter and butter in a pan.
24)heat gently till it comes to a boil.
25)Add in toasted nuts and oats. This time I used instant oats.
26)Mix everything well.
27)Spoon this into a parchment lined baking pan and evenly spread the top. Pop this pan into the fridge for few hours to set.
28)Slice the bars and enjoy.
29)Peanut butter bars is ready to serve.
For Chocolate Dipped Granola bars
30)Melt dark chocolate either in microwave or using double boiler.
31)Dip bars into the chocolate.
32)Coat the bars in chocolate. Remove it carefully using a fork.
33)Place it in a parchment paper lined pan and refrigerate for few hours.
34)Serve.
More Oats Recipes to try
📖 Recipe
Soft & Chewy Granola Bar | Granola Bars Recipe
Servings: 12 bars
Calories: 569kcal
Ingredients
For Granola Bars
For Coconut & Cranberry Granola Bars
For Peanut Butter Granola Bars
For Chocolate Dipped Granola Bars
Instructions
For Granola Bars
For Coconut Cranberry Granola Bars
For Peanut Butter Granola Bars
For Chocolate Dipped Granola Bars
Nutrition
Serving: 1servings | Calories: 569kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 197mg | Potassium: 398mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 507IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 5mg
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Source: Yummy Tummy
