This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
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.
Would you like to save this?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
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.
Want more Weelicious? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for all the newest recipes!
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.
I made these bars last night, and they turned out really well. I stuck with the recipe as is and baked the bars in a 9×13 parchment-lined pan. I started checking them at 25 minutes, as suggested by other users, and kept adding a few minutes at a time until they were golden brown on top, which took me to about 40 minutes. I cooled them overnight and they cut beautifully this morning with minimal crumbling. I’ve found the occasional pocket of salt, so I may adjust that in future, but otherwise, I’m happy with the end result.
[…] involve him in cooking, and gives us a nice activity while my youngest naps. Today, we made these Weelicious Granola Bars. Here’s a video of my little chef helping make pancakes. Yes, I’m too lazy to puree […]
[…] is Nut Free, Soy Free and Dairy Free!!! The link to the recipe, just in case you want to try it is, http://b12.ba4.myftpupload.com/2011/09/06/chocolate-chip-granola-bars/#comments. Or you can click on the picture below. Don’t they look […]
I have been searching for an easy granola bar recipe to make since my son has food allergies to nuts, dairy and soy. I can’t wait to make these with him!!!
[…] Many popular finger foods that kids love can be easily made at home so you know exactly what’s going into your child’s food and their body. Some of my family’s favorites are: Chicken Nuggets, Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf Bites, Animal Crackers, Whole Wheat Cheddar Crackers. […]
Amazing! I didn’t add the salt or brown sugar and they were sweet enough for my kids and my daycare kids to eat every bite off the plate! Great recipe 🙂
[…] I made these granola bars a while back and posted about it on Facebook. I think they’re pretty […]
BWin, thanks for the tip. I used coconut oil and added honey to the already melted coconut oil, so not sure precisely how much honey I actually added. Seemed a bit dry so I added a bit of agave syrup given that I had run out of honey. .Just curious if the mixture is still fairly dry before shaping onto the pan. Thanks.
For those struggling with gettin these to stick together as bars, I’ve made these quite a few times and have found the following things help:
-Don’t add to many additional dried fruits, nuts, etc. stick with the given measurements.
-stir dry ingredients WELL, to incorporate especially the brown sugar through , with no lumps.
-when adding the wet ingredients, stir beyond what you think necessary, the stir some more. And a little more. Evenly coating the dry ingredients is SO important
-lastly, not cooking long enough and not allowing enough cool time will cause breakage.
This recipe takes some practice, but once you get it down, it’s easy!
Made these today…. Delicious! Two year old loves them, so does daddy! These will be a staple at my house.
[…] http://b12.ba4.myftpupload.com/2011/09/06/chocolate-chip-granola-bars/ […]
Anyone try to sub out the brown sugar for something else? I made them last night subbing some ground flax for the flour and coconut oil for the vegetable oil… (used 1/2 chocolate chips and some pepitas and currants – delicious!). I suppose I could just leave out the sugar?
I mixed 1/4 cup of ground flax seeds into the dry mixture to pack an Omega 3 punch. I’m so happy to have found the weelicious website! Thanks for so many great recipes!
[…] Chocolate Chip Granola Bars by Weelicious (I use succanat, coconut oil in place of the brown sugar and canola oil) […]
wow these are deliciouse and amazing they turned out great!!!
I froze them and they were still great after being defrosted. But they were only frozen a few days b/c my family ate the first batch so quickly!