Easy Homemade Granola Bar Recipe (2024)

By Amy @ Positively Splendid

Super quick and easy, these easy homemade granola bars are a great way to incorporate some healthy fiber, nuts and dried fruit into your (or you little one’s!) diet. These make for a terrific after school snack or on-the-go breakfast!
Easy Granola Bars
(adapted from USA Weekend)
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 assorted dried fruit (we love blueberries and cranberries)
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan with vegetable cooking spray.
Thoroughly mix all ingredients in a medium bowl. (This is a terrific recipe to make with little helpers!) Turn into prepared pan and, using cooking spray-coated hands, pat down until firmly packed. Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Cool to room temperature, and then put pan in freezer.
When bar is firm, use a sharp knife to cut into 1×4-inch bars. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Easy Homemade Granola Bar Recipe (2)

Amy @ Positively Splendid

Having grown up in a home brimming with sewing notions and paintbrushes, Amy has a deep love for all things creative. On any given day, you’ll find her knee-deep in her latest creative endeavor, with projects ranging from sewing and crafts to home decor and kid-friendly ideas. Amy believes that everyone, regardless of skill level or experience, possesses the ability to create something beautiful, and Positively Splendid was born of her passion for helping others harness their innate creative potential.

EVEN MORE GREAT IDEAS JUST FOR YOU!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Easy Homemade Granola Bar Recipe (3)Kelli @ RTSM says

    I’ve always wanted to try making homemade granola bars! This sounds like a great recipe to try too:) Thanks for sharing Amy!

  2. Easy Homemade Granola Bar Recipe (4)Stef says

    Those look awesome, Amy!! My kids love granola bars and I’d love to make them with real food! Thanks!

  3. Easy Homemade Granola Bar Recipe (5)Lizzy says

    Yum–they look delicious–we will have to try this one out. My kids would love helping with something like this. Thanks for posting the recipe!

  4. Easy Homemade Granola Bar Recipe (6)Lorie says

    Those look YUMMY! And great for the kiddos to take to schooL!

  5. Easy Homemade Granola Bar Recipe (8)Aubrey says

    oh yum! and how’d you know I’ve been looking for a good bar recipe forever! Now a breakfast bar…hmmm.

  6. Easy Homemade Granola Bar Recipe (9)Vanessa says

    Amy,

    This is yummy! I will have to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing.

    Vanessa
    homesweetbutterfly.com

  7. Easy Homemade Granola Bar Recipe (11)Jeni says

    I was thinking the same thing about the sweetened condensed milk – so glad to find an alternative! Thanks!

  8. Easy Homemade Granola Bar Recipe (12)I♥naptime w/ Chocolate Sundaes says

    These look really yummy! I’m going to have to try these! Thanks for sharing. Hope your doing good. Hugs!

  9. Easy Homemade Granola Bar Recipe (13)Kellie says

    Thanks for the tips. I’ve tried homemade granola bars in the past and they were tasty, but didn’t really resemble granola bars. These look great!

  10. Easy Homemade Granola Bar Recipe (14)Keri says

    Also wondering if there is something that could sub the condensed milk. I am making these right now (mostly for me lol tried another recipe for the kids but don’t like it). Anyways, both of my kids have a milk sensitivity, so I’m looking for a non-dairy sub for the condensed milk.

    Thanks!

  11. Easy Homemade Granola Bar Recipe (15)JerseyGirl says

    I saw people asking about what to use instead of condensed milk but didn’t see the response. Can someone repost what to use as a substitute? Thanks!

  12. Easy Homemade Granola Bar Recipe (16)Amy @ Positively Splendid says

    Hi, everyone! It is possible to make a homemade substitute for the sweetened condensed milk. I have never done it myself, so I can’t vouch personally for this one, but this is a recipe I found through a Google search: http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,183,151170-247198,00.html

    @Keri, I honestly am not much help in terms of the non-dairy substitute. Maybe there is a soy alternative out there? So sorry not to have anything else to offer there!

Easy Homemade Granola Bar Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What helps homemade granola bars stick together? ›

Honey – Along with the nut butter, it helps all these ingredients stick together! I love its warm amber flavor in this recipe. Vanilla extract – It amps up the bars' warm flavor.

How do you keep homemade granola bars from falling apart? ›

#2 Use Honey

Binding agents provide structure and stability and help you produce a more stable outcome. Using the right binding agent in your granola bar recipe is a crucial part of keeping your bars from falling apart.

What ingredient makes granola stick together? ›

Add an egg white.

The whites act as a kind of glue that binds the ingredients together. To ensure that the egg whites coat all the ingredients, I beat them with a whisk until foamy and increased in volume, which makes it much easier to fold into the granola.

Is it cheaper to make your own granola bars? ›

Homemade granola bars aren't hard to make once you have all the right ingredients and they'll certainly save you money in the long term.

What is the best glue for granola bars? ›

Honey and brown sugar help make a glue for the bars.

The honey and brown sugar really helps with keeping the bars together. Chocolate chips added to the mixture help, too. We add some to the granola mixture while it is still warm.

Should you soak oats before making granola bars? ›

Fill the bowl up with water to completely cover the mixture – enough that you can stir to combine. This soaking process will help the oats and seeds digest better. After the oat/seed mixture has soaked 8-12 hours, add the rest of the ingredients and combine.

Why is my homemade granola not crunchy? ›

Higher temperatures can cause ingredients like nuts, seeds, and coconut to burn before the batch has a chance to properly dry out and crisp up, Perry says. Stick with a low temperature, keep an eye on your mixture, and stir it from time to time to help it brown evenly.

Do homemade granola bars need to be refrigerated? ›

Even though you should refrigerate your granola bars to help them firm up quickly, you do not need to store them in the refrigerator. After cutting them, I wrap mine in a strip of parchment or wax paper (to keep them from sticking to each other) and then store them in a resealable Ziploc bag in my cabinet.

What is the main ingredient in chewy granola bars? ›

GRANOLA (WHOLE GRAIN OATS, BROWN SUGAR, BROWN RICE CRISP [WHOLE GRAIN BROWN RICE FLOUR, SUGAR, SALT], WHOLE GRAIN WHEAT, SOYBEAN OIL, WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, BAKING SODA, SOY LECITHIN, NONFAT DRY MILK), CORN SYRUP, BROWN RICE CRISP (WHOLE GRAIN BROWN RICE FLOUR, SUGAR, SALT), SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS (SUGAR, CHOCOLATE ...

Can you make granola without parchment paper? ›

Use a large sheet pan and make sure to spread the oats mixture in one single layer directly on the pan. I do not use parchment paper, I know it's easier for clean up purposes but it does not produce the same results in terms of crunch. Check the granola every few minutes during the baking time and stir to avoid burning ...

What is granola with a hint of cinnamon? ›

Kellogg's® Granola Crunchy. Indulge with the delicious Kellogg's® Granola Crunchy. It is the perfect combination of rolled oat clusters with shredded coconut and a hint of cinnamon.

Are homemade granola bars worth it? ›

While store-bought granola bars can be unhealthy and full of added sugars, these homemade granola bars are healthy in moderation. They're a delicious and nutritious snack option compared to those that come in a package. How Do I Make Granola Bars with the Least Calories?

Is it OK to eat granola bars everyday? ›

Yes, granola can be eaten daily. As part of a balanced diet and if the portions are checked. Go for healthier options with less added sugars and saturated fats to get the most out of it.

What is a substitute for brown rice syrup in granola bars? ›

If you're using it as a binder in something like a granola bar you need to substitute something with a similar very thick consistency. That would include corn syrup, glucose syrup, and golden syrup. If you're baking with it you'll also want to stay with one of those options to keep the moisture levels similar.

What binds granola bars together? ›

If your granola bars are falling apart or seem too crumbly, here are a few tips. Make sure you use honey or another sticky sweetener such as maple syrup in the liquid part of the recipe; this recipe calls for honey. This will help bind together the ingredients and keep that signature bar shape.

How do you make homemade granola clump together? ›

Clumpy Granola Method: Add Egg White

The idea is that the egg's protein will help the oats bind to each other and create delicate clusters. Results: Not only does the egg white work as a glue to hold the oats together, but it also gives the granola an incredibly crispy bite.

Why is my homemade granola sticky? ›

I aim to let it hit room temperature, whatever that may be; the real point is to give it ample time to shed excess heat and steam. This should take about 45 minutes; if left out indefinitely, the granola can turn sticky or soft, so do try to put it away as soon after cooling as you can.

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