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Homemade Chocolate Chip Granola Bars are so easy to make, you’ll wonder why you ever bought them in stores. They’re super healthy, slightly crunchy with a bit of sweet chocolate in every bite and absolutely delicious!
Table of Contents
Why I Make Homemade Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
Do you know off the top of your head how much money you spend on granola and/or nutritional bars for your kids? Take a minute and add it up. I would bet it’s more than you think! Before you say “they’re convenient”, trust me, I get it. On those busy mornings when you don’t have time for breakfast, there’s nothing easier than tossing a bar into your child’s lunch box and another one into your bag. But, a majority of the brands on the market are not as healthy as their manufacturers would lead you to believe and are way more expensive that making them at home.
I got so fed up with what my we were spending on bars, I devoted myself to figuring out how to make Protein Bars myself. I worked so hard at it, I even flirted with starting my own business! These Chocolate Chip Granola Bars are unbelievably delicious, and if you wrap them individually, they’re just as easy to grab when you’re on-the-go as the ones you buy at the market. Plus, you’ll have no problem pronouncing all of the ingredients in these.
The Ingredients
- Old fashioned oats: For these bars we use old fashioned oats (also know as rolled oats) as the base for our bars.
- Whole wheat flour: I use whole wheat because it has more health benefits than all purpose, but any flour you have on hand will work.
- Shredded unsweetened coconut: I know coconut can be polarizing, but you barely taste it in this recipe. If you still give coconut a hard no, you can leave it out!
- Brown sugar: This adds a touch of sweetness to the bars.
- Mini chocolate chips: If you want, you can substitute raisins or other dried fruit for the chocolate chips.
- Kosher salt: A pinch of salt balances out the sweetness.
- Oil of choice: You can use vegetable, canola, avocado or an other oil of your choosing.
- Vanilla extract: Another ingredient that just adds a little sweetness and warmth.
- Honey: The majority of the sweetness in these bars come from naturally sweet honey instead of processed white sugar.
*Exact measurements and instructions are in the recipe card below*
Variations and Substitutions
- Don’t have whole wheat flour? No worries! You can use any flour you prefer. All purpose, a cup-for-cup gluten free flour or even almond flour will work. I use whole wheat because it has more health benefits than all purpose, but use what you have on hand.
- Don’t want chocolate chips? If you’re hesitant to give your kids chocolate chips in the morning or for snack time, you can easily substitute them with naturally sweet dried fruit like cranberries, cherries or raisins.
- Not a fan of coconut? I get it. Sometimes people are just don’t love coconut. You can leave it out completely if you want. I will say, you hardly taste it in these, but do what feels best to you.
Chocolate Chip Granola Bars Recipe Video
How to Make Homemade Granola Bars
Step 1: In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients – oats, flour, coconut, brown sugar, chocolate chips and salt.
Step 2: In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients – oil, vanilla extract and honey.
Step 3: Make the granola mixture by pouring the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients mixture and stir thoroughly to combine.
Step 4: Form a large granola slab. Place the granola mixture on a parchment or silpat lined baking sheet and shape into a rectangle about 13 x 9 x 1 inches thick. Press firmly so that the granola sticks together. Bake for 30-40 minutes in a pre-heated 325°F oven.
Step 5: Allow to cool completely then, using a large serrated knife, cut into 3 x 1 inch bars.
Storage Tips
You can store granola bars in an airtight container or individually wrapped on the counter for up to two weeks or in the refrigerator for up to a month.
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Frequently Asked Questions
I get this question a lot with homemade granola bars. First of all, let the bars cool completely before you try to cut them into bars. Also, using a large serrated knife in a sawing motion (don’t press down super hard) will help you cut them without making them crumble.
This usually happens for two reasons. One, the wet and dry ingredients weren’t incorporating together thoroughly enough. Next time, mix them really, really well so that every piece of the oat mixture gets coated in the honey/oil mixture. Two, when forming the granola rectangle before baking, press everything firmly together so it sticks.
Absolutely! To freeze these chocolate chip granola bars, add them to an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 4 months. Just make sure to let them thaw for about 20 minutes before you eat them!
More Healthy Bar Recipes
These Chocolate Chip Granola Bars are delicious, healthy, cost effective and so easy to make! You’ve got to give them a try and let me know what you think by leaving a rating and comment below.
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Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 4 cups old fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup chocolate chips (You can substitute raisins or other dried fruit for the chocolate chips.)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup vegetable, canola, avocado or other oil of choice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup honey
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Combine the first 6 ingredients in a bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients.
- Pour the wet ingredients over the oat mixture and stir thoroughly to combine.
- Place granola mixture on a parchment lined baking sheet and shape into a rectangle, about 13 x 9 x 1 inch thick. Press firmly so that the granola sticks together.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes.
- Allow to cool completely, then cut into 3 x 1 inch bars.
Notes
- Storage: Individually wrapped, the bars will remain fresh for several weeks.
- To Freeze: To freeze these chocolate chip granola bars, add them to an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 4 months. Just make sure to let them thaw for about 20 minutes before you eat them!
- Don’t have whole wheat flour? No worries! You can use any flour you prefer. All purpose, a cup-for-cup gluten free flour or even almond flour will work. I use whole wheat because it has more health benefits than all purpose, but use what you have on hand.
- Don’t want chocolate chips? If you’re hesitant to give your kids chocolate chips in the morning or for snack time, you can easily substitute them with naturally sweet dried fruit like cranberries, cherries or raisins.
Whole family loves these! I love that they are so simple! Thank you!
I made these per the recipe and they turned out beautifully. Thanks for the recipe! No more store bought for us.
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Made these twice now. First time I followed the recipe exactly and ended up with a crunchy mess. Delicious – but no bar could be cut from what came out of my oven! I made them again last week. I only had a quarter cup of honey in the house so I subbed maple syrup for the rest – and then drizzled in a bit more when the mixture still seemed too dry. Using the advice in the replies here, I put it in a 9 x 13 pyrex coated with cooking spray, pressed it down with parchment and baked it only 25 minutes. I let it cool about an hour, turned it over onto a tea towel (came out in one big piece) and let it sit for several hours. It cut up into bars beautifully! They are nice and chewy without falling apart. Mine look just like the picture! Best granola bars I’ve every made!
Oh, and I doubt it matters, but I used a quarter cup of sliced almonds and a quarter cup of chocolate chips. One cup the first time was way too much chocolate for me! I’m making them again today for my daughter’s Kindergarten class and I’m going to use dried blueberries and almonds. Great recipe!
Without being there I can’t be sure, but it could be you need to bake them for a little less time. I know some ovens run hotter than others so sometimes it’s just a matter of adjusting cooking time. I hope they hold together next time! Just crumble it up and enjoy over yogurt! Yummmmm!
just made these but the just fell apart :(. i did exactly as the recipe says, any suggestions?
These came out amazing for me. I cut the baking time to 30 min and used a 9×13 pan. The whole family loves these; thanks!
Just made these. Bases on previous comments I only baked for 20min, but they still completely fell apart. I will try them again increasing cooking time to 30 min. The crumble was delish though.
I just made these, following the recipe to the letter, except for baking time (only 30 min). They are delicious. Next time I will reduce the chocolate chips to only 100 g and baking time to only 20 minutes. For me they are too sweet to be healthy, but not too sweet as a chocolate treat. I can’t wait to try this with soaked cranberries and raisins. Thank you, Catherine!
I might store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator because of the flax seed. You could sub rice cereal for some of the oats and that would alter the texture, maybe make them a bit more airy. I haven’t tried it, but I’d like to now! I always have brown rice cereal on hand. I can usually find it at Trader Joe’s as well as my local grocery.
I haven’t been able to find unsweetened coconut anywhere. Where do you get yours? My 22 month old had a blast making these with me today (and the other day, but that batch got stuck to waxed paper and was ruined. Oops!)
I added wheat germ and ground flax seed. With those added ingredients do you think they are still able to be stored the same way? This is my new favorite recipe.
Also, what could I add to make them more airy? I love Quaker granola bars. What is it in those that is airy? Is it like little rice puffs? I wonder how some rice crispies would be in this recipe. Have you tried that? Do they make brown rice puffs anywhere? Sorry. I am totally on a granola bar kick now. You and your recipes rock!
I’m making these for the third time in two weeks because my 2 year old will not stop asking for “nana bar! nana bar! nana bar!” We’ve omitted the coconut each time. We made them once with 1 cu chocolate chips, once with 3/4 cu chopped dates and 1/4 chocolate chips, and I am now making them with 1 cu raisins. Each batch has been delicious. Thanks for the recipe!
These are great! I made mine with quick oats and once they cooled completely they are chewy. I baked them for 20 min BUT i made a half batch tho I forgot to half the flour (white all purpose) Still turned out great! I got 12 1×3 bars from my recipe. I omitted coconut. THANKS!
Just made them for the first time, I only baked for 30 minutes, the edges were over cooked but i just cut them off and snacked on them myself 🙂
BUT my made question is, did anyone get 30 bars out of this recipe? I got 12 and 1 crumbled, probably just didn’t pack that area well enough. Mine look the same size as a regular store bought granola bar…so even taking into account the edges I cut off, there is no way I could make 30?