If you're looking for a snack that will give you sustained energy + leave you feeling full, then these homemade granola bars are for you!
I grew up on Nature’s Valley bars thanks to my dad, but I wanted to make my own version using my fav plant-based ingredients. Now this, my friend, is a "rawkstar" healthy granola bar recipe.
Homemade granola bars vs store bought
The reason I love these homemade granola bars so much is because I get to choose the ingredients. It is TOUGH to walk through the aisles of grocery stores while on the hunt for a granola bar filled with protein and healthy fats... that still tastes good... and doesn't included added sweeteners, corn syrup, super processed fat, as well as chemicals I'm not interested in consuming.
Healthy granola bar recipe
The combination of chia seeds, almonds, and gluten-free rolled oats packs a protein punch for your body—whether it's making it to the next hour at work or making it to the next vista on hike. Just check out this rawkstar ingredient list.
Plant powered, protein packed granola bars
People often ask how I get enough protein through plant based eating. I love getting this question, because then I share all the incredible protein packed plants out there. Here's what you can expect from protein in these homemade granola bars:
- gluten free rolled oats contain 16.9 grams of protein per 3.5 oz
- almond flour contains 6.1 grams of protein per serving
- sliced almonds contain 6 grams of protein per 1 oz
- chia seeds contain 4 grams of protein per 1 oz
While plant protein may look different from other forms of protein, it is just as effective. It often provides more than just a protein boost when you look at the vitamin and mineral content of these awesome ingredients as well. I want these homemade protein bars to taste good, while also fueling my day.
Healthy, necessary fat
Many people shy away from recipes with fat in them because we've been trained to see fat as bad. Yet the truth is, fat is a vital necessity to break down the protein and carbs in foods, and helps turn that food into usable energy. Here are the ingredients bringing healthy fat to this homemade granola bar recipe:
- gluten free rolled oats contain 6.9 grams of fat per 3.5 oz
- almond flour contains 14.2 grams of fat per serving
- sliced almonds contain 14 grams of fat per 1 oz
- almond butter contains 9.5 grams of fat per 1 tbsp
- chia seeds contain 9 grams of fat per 1 oz
Plant powered ingredient swaps
While this recipe is for oatmeal raisin bars, feel free to swap the raisins for a dried fruit of your choice. Don't you love how versatile these homemade granola bars are?! I also like to use dried apricots, blueberries, or cherries, depending on what's in my pantry. If almond butter isn't your thing, swap for cashew butter, or even sunflower seed butter, to avoid nuts altogether. The nut butter acts as a binder + healthy fat in this homemade granola bar recipe, so feel free to swap with your preferred choice.
If you'd like an extra protein boost in these homemade granola bars, I recommend using just ¼ cup of almond flour, then using Protein Smoothie Boost for the other ¼ cup (which is one serving). This plant powered protein powder offers 10 extra grams of protein. That boost brings the total per serving to 17.3 grams of protein! It also adds an extra dose of healthy fat. This helps burn turn the carbs into energy that will fuel you all day long.
Homemade Granola Bars
Rate this Recipe Print RecipeIngredients
- 1 ½ cups rolled oats
- ½ cup almond flour
- ½ cup almond slices
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup raisins
- ¼ cup almond butter
- 2 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil (melted)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- pinch ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grease an 8 × 8-inch baking pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the oats, almond flour, almonds, maple syrup, raisins, almond butter, chia seeds, oil, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg.
- Press the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until lightly golden on the edges. Let cool completely in the pan.
- Cut into 8 rectangles.
Video
Notes
- Gluten free if using gluten free oats.
- Nut-free: Remove almonds, increase oats to 2 cups, and replace almond butter with sunflower butter).
- They will keep for about 1 week if wrapped well and stored in a cool place.
Tina
These were so so good! Even my fussy son liked them! So that’s a win 🙂 not over sweet like some others I have made . This is a keeper!
Simple Green Smoothies
Love that Tina! Winning over fussy eaters, one granola bar at a time. What a good mama!
Gigi
Hi for the granola recipe to double up on the protein, do I ad the 1/2 cup of almond butter and protein powder?
Thanks Gigi
Jessica
Very excited to give these a try!
Simple Green Smoothies
Come back and let us know what you think after you make them!
Kat B.
So so good! I think I'll try adding some Protein Smoothie Boost to the mix for extra protein. Has anyone tried that yet?
Simple Green Smoothies
I haven't but others have and they said it's a great addition for extra protein!
Kim
Such a great alternative to store-bought granola bars. Feeling like super-mom right now! 😉 Thank you for the delish recipe!
Simple Green Smoothies
You're welcome, Kim! 🙂
Suzanne Fulmer
I would love to ship these bars. yeah or nay?
Shelf life.
Sharon Myers
I bet you could Suzanne— just make sure they're air tight and prob cook them a little less so they hold their moisture (otherwise they might get crumbly and turn into granola...which wouldn't be too bad)
Simple Green Smoothies
Hey Suzanne! I think you probably could as long as you wrap them well and ship in an airtight container. Let us know how it goes!
Donna
Question: can cranberries or dried cherries be substituted or added to the raisins? Can Natural Peanut Butter be used?
Simple Green Smoothies
Yes you can totally add in some dried cherries or raisins! We usually like to stay away from peanut butter but if that is what you prefer then you could definitely add that to this recipe!
sheila
By far the best granola bars ever! This is a must try recipe! I don't think I will ever eat store bought again. My husband loved them (he ate most of them). Very flavorful and not heavy. Will make weekly! The week soft and yummy! Any suggestions on making them harder?
Simple Green Smoothies
That is awesome, Sheila! I am so happy that you loved this recipe. It really puts the store bought granola bars to shame!
Jaime
these are fabulous!! so soooo good!
Simple Green Smoothies
Hey Jaime,
Thank you and so happy to hear that you love this recipe! 🙂
grace
Thank you for this recipe, going to try to make this. Quick question (sorry if this has been answered): can I switch almond flour with almond meals?
Simple Green Smoothies
Hey Grace!
So happy that you love this recipe! A great substitute for almond flour with this recipe would be oat flour so you can keep the same consistency.
Enjoy!! 🙂
Amanda S
These sound great! I've been trying to find ways to incorporate chia seeds into my diet and this would double as a great recipe for my daughters.
Simple Green Smoothies
They are a big hit with adults and kids alike!
Elisa Houston
These are our new go-to bar. I freeze them and put them in my kids' lunches everyday!
Simple Green Smoothies
Hey Elisa,
Yay!! So happy these are your new go to bars!!
Michelle
I made these for my family and they were SOOOOO good! Everyone loved them! They were great right out of the oven and I poured some milk over them and ate it like cereal, also good!
Simple Green Smoothies
What a great idea, Michelle!
Rachel
As soon as I pick up some almond flour I'm gonna try these for my kiddos! They look delicious and we haven't found a good store bought granola bar that they like to eat and I like the ingredients of! Thank you!
Simple Green Smoothies
So true, Rachel! It's very tough to find a store-bought granola bar that tastes good and doesn't have a bunch of sugar and other "stuff" in it. These are the perfect answer to that!
Susan Bricker
I love this recipe! I was so tired of the boxed bars from the grocery store. These bars were so easy to make and tasted delicious! My husband loved them too! Thanks for the great recipes Jen!
Simple Green Smoothies
So glad you and your husband love them, Susan! 🙂
Amy Gerrits
I've loved all the granola recipes from the 21 day cleanses, I can't wait to try these too.
Simple Green Smoothies
They are just as good as the others, Amy!
Dandi D
My family loves granola bars, so we will have to try these soon!
Simple Green Smoothies
Def give them a try and let us know what you and your family thought!
Allie
I love making my own granola bars and I seriously cannot wait to get home and make these for myself! I know they'll be great to take to work and keep in my desk.
Simple Green Smoothies
They are def great snacks to keep at work for those afternoon hunger pangs!
Rhonda McNally
I am making these this week! I love your recipes for warrior bars too! I am an avid hiker and backpacker and will make these to fuel my next adventure.
Simple Green Smoothies
That's awesome, Rhonda! 😀
Amber McDonald
I made these and they were amazing!! The ingredients were super simple and gluten free! With a recent gluten intolerant diagnosis, these bars fill the void of all the things I was missing. If you haven’t tried these yet. They are sooo worth it!
Simple Green Smoothies
Hey Amber!
I am so happy to hear how much you love these granola bars. They really are so delicious!!!
Colleen C
I made these as soon as I saw this blog post, and I’ve made them several times since. They are so convenient and delicious. One thing I do to make these successfully is melt the almond butter with the coconut oil to make sure it is easier to mix. Otherwise, the ingredients don’t stick together as well.
Simple Green Smoothies
Yay! I am so happy to hear that you love these granola bars so much!
Thank you for sharing that tip with us 🙂
Kim
I used dried cranberries instead of raisins. The whole family loves them. Great school snacks!!
Simple Green Smoothies
Oh yum!! I love dried cranberries so that sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing that with us.
DONNA BOWMAN
Made these and they taste wonderful however they fell apart. Any suggestions on what I might have done wrong?
Simple Green Smoothies
Hey Donna,
I am sorry they fell apart! I would try pressing them a little firmer into the pan before you cook them.
Hope that helps!!
Megan
Just need some clarification: in your instructions to make these nut-free, you didn't give any substitutions for the almond flour. Have you tried any other kinds of flours? Or do you just leave out the almond flour and go short 1/2 cup of ingredients?
Simple Green Smoothies
Hey Megan,
I would not leave out the flour while making this recipe. The other flour that would be a good recommendation for this recipe is oat flour. It will have the same consistency as almond flour so you shouldn't notice any difference while cooking with it.
Sandy
This recipe is a must try. I must admit that I have tried many of your green smoothies and salad recipes with great success. This has got to be a winner, too.
Simple Green Smoothies
Ding ding ding!!! SO happy this recipe is a winner for you!!!
Sandy
I've made them twice already ... they are that good!
Simple Green Smoothies
Yay Sandy!!
I am so crazy excited that you are loving this recipe! Sounds like you will be crunching or chewing on these for a while =P
Beth
Do you think these would freeze well? Wrapped in parchment maybe? (I'm guessing yes)
Simple Green Smoothies
Hey Beth!
I think the bars would hold up nicely if you wrapped them in the parchment paper to freeze. Sounds like you are about to make a big batch! I am getting hungry just thinking about it 🙂
MARLA
Looks delicious. I would love to see nutrition facts for all the recipes though.
Simple Green Smoothies
Thanks for your feedback Marla!
At this time we do not offer nutritional facts but that is something we may start adding in the future. 🙂
Lisa ross
I dont see where you can comment on the video so maybe it is here on the blag. Recipe looks great cant wit to try it
Simple Green Smoothies
Hey Lisa,
Thanks for leaving a comment! You will have to let us know what you think when you give these a try. I have a feeling you will love them!! On our Youtube page if you scroll down to the bottom of the video you should be able to leave a comment there 🙂
Loraine
These sound delicious! Is there a substitute for the maple syrup? Can I use liquid stevia?
Simple Green Smoothies
Hi Loraine! We prefer to use maple syrup or raw honey as our sweeteners. Or, you could skip those and throw a super-ripe banana in there (as long as you like bananas). We prefer not to use stevia as it tends to be highly processed.
Christie
These look good, adaptable and easy to make, more importantly.
And crunchy for me! There’s something satisfying about the crunch.
Simple Green Smoothies
The crunch is the best part! Feel free to leave them in the oven for a little longer for an even bigger CRUNCH!!
Simple Green Smoothies
They totally are! That crunch is everything =P
denise broniak
I would prefer the crunchy bars! p.s. your oven looks pretty clean for all the baking you do. lol
Jen
The crunchy edge pieces are always my go-to as well. 🙂 I try to keep my oven clean, yet some days it gets a little crazy.
Louise Nagahori
I would have loved to make this recipe however my child is allergic to almonds and all tree nuts. However since she is not allergic to peanuts, which is a legume, I can use peanut butter. do you know if the consistency can work with another nut free flour?
Louise Nagahori
I found the nut free answer by reading to the bottom at your notes thanks! I had only read the yummy ingredients when I commented
Jen Hansard
You can def swap out the almonds for sunflower seeds and the almond butter for sunflower butter (or peanut butter if you prefer). I would swap the almond flour with oat flour (just grind down some oats into a fine powder) and it should work!
Traci Ziebarth
Yummy!!!! I will be making these this weekend. I prefer crunchy!!
Jen Hansard
Yum! Yum! Enjoy these Traci and feel free to cook extra long if you want them even more crunchy!
Veronica
I like it give good a recipe
I will be trying this recipe today thanks you
Jen Hansard
You're welcome Veronica. Glad to share some new fun recipes.... these bars are addicting... in all the right ways.
Brooke
Chewy all the way for me!!! Love that you don’t need a food processor for this one!
Jennifer Hansard
Blender all the way Brooke! I rarely use my food processor— just for pesto really. I tried to blend pesto once and it was too powerful and made it a green slime. Bleh!
Karen
Simple delish and nutrish! I LOVE it
Jennifer Hansard
You got it right Karen! xoxoxoxo
Dani
This sound AMAZING Jen! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe— your video is super helpful too. My go-to granola bar is Rise, which has a delicious lemon cashew flavor that I can't put down. It's sometimes hard to find, yet Whole Foods usually has it and they are popping up more and more!
Simple Green Smoothies
Hey Dani. Lemon cashew sounds really delicious! You could try subbing those flavors into this recipe and see if you can recreate your favorite bar at home!
Dunmola
I love crunch granola bars. Yummm.....
I will be trying this recipe
Jennifer Hansard
Me too Dunmola! Glad you're gonna make it— I know you'll love it!