Chewy Granola Bar Recipe
This chewy granola bar recipe is like a hug in snack form—sweet, wholesome, and so satisfying. They’re the perfect treat for busy mornings, quick lunches, or an afternoon snack break. Packed with oats, dried fruits, and nuts, these bars offer a wonderful mix of textures and flavors. What’s even better? They’re incredibly easy to make at home with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.
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Ingredients Needed For Chewy Granola Bars:
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 tsp real vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup honey + 2 tablespoons
- 3 cups old-fashioned oats (not quick oats; I’ll explain why in just a bit!)
- 1 cup dried fruits
- 1 1/2 cups nuts (Think raisins, dried cranberries, chopped apricots, sunflower seeds, almonds, pecans, cashews or walnuts.)
Why Old-Fashioned Oats?
Old-fashioned oats work best for these granola bars because they hold their shape and provide that chewy texture, we all love. Quick oats might seem like a shortcut, but they can get too soft and leave your bars crumbly. Trust me, it’s worth sticking with old-fashioned oats for this recipe.
How To Make This Chewy Granola Bar Recipe:
- Line the Dish: First, grab a 9×9-inch or 11×7-inch baking dish for thicker bars! or 9 x 13 for thinner bars. Line your pan with parchment paper. Let a bit of parchment hang over the edges so it’s easy to lift the bars out later.
- Simmer the Sweetness: In a medium saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter, nutmeg, cinnamon, and honey. Warm everything over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it just starts to simmer. Simmer 1-2 minutes—a gentle simmer is perfect.
- Add Vanilla Magic: Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. This step makes the kitchen smell absolutely amazing!
- Mix It All Together: In a big bowl, pour the syrup over your old fashion oats and dried fruits/nuts. Mix until everything is coated in that sweet, spiced goodness.
- Press and Chill: Scoop the mixture into your prepared dish and press it down firmly. A spatula works well, or even your hands if you don’t mind getting a little sticky. Pop the dish into the fridge and let it chill for at least 2 hours.
- Slice and Enjoy: Once the mixture is firm, lift it out of the dish using the parchment paper and cut it into bars. You’ll end up with about 12 to 16 bars, depending on how you slice them.
Keeping Your Bars Fresh:
- In the Fridge: Store your chewy granola bars in an airtight container in the fridge, where they’ll stay fresh for up to a week.
- At Room Temp: If you prefer softer bars, they’ll last at room temperature in a cool, dry spot for about 5 days.
Freezing Tips:
If you’d like to make a big batch, these bars freeze beautifully. Wrap each bar individually in plastic wrap or parchment paper, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll keep for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, just let a bar thaw on the counter or in the fridge.
Mix It Up:
Part of the fun of making chewy granola bars at home is customizing them to suit your taste. Some combinations to try:
- Chopped dates and pecans
- Dried blueberries and cashews
- Toasted coconut flakes and macadamia nuts
There you have it! Soft and chewy granola bars that you can whip up in no time. They’re a great way to keep snack time delicious and wholesome. Let me know what combinations you come up with—I’d love to hear your ideas!
The Best Homemade Granola Recipe
Chocolate Chip Caramel Cookie Bars
Chewy Granola Bar Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 tsp real vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup honey + 2 tablespoons
- 3 cups old-fashioned oats not quick oats
- 1 cup dried fruits
- 1 1/2 cups nuts
Instructions
- Line a 9×9-inch or 11×7-inch baking dish with parchment paper.These size pans will yield a thicker granola bar. If you prefer a thinner bar use a 9 x13. Let a bit of parchment hang over the edges so it’s easy to lift the bars out later.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter, nutmeg, cinnamon, and honey. Warm everything over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it just starts to simmer. simmer 1-2 minutes—a gentle simmer is perfect.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- In a big bowl, pour the syrup over your old fashion oats and dried fruits/nuts. Mix until everything is coated.
- Scoop the mixture into your prepared dish and press it down firmly. A spatula works well, or even your hands if you don’t mind getting a little sticky.Place dish into the fridge and let it chill for at least 2 hours.
- Once the mixture is firm, lift it out of the dish using the parchment paper and cut it into bars. You’ll end up with about 12 to 16 bars, depending on how you slice them.