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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.
Has anyone tried adding rice krispies? I think I’m going to try 3 1/2C of oats and then 1/2C rice krispies and see how that turns out. I also added 1tsp of cinnamon the last time I made them. I LOVE chocolate and cinnamon together! Definitely need to decrease the baking time to 25-30 minutes this time too!
I’ve made this recipe numerous times. I’ve had the best results when using a glass pan, doubling the honey, and baking for about 20 minutes.
I made these this morning and they turned out great!
After reading the comments, I cooked them on Reynolds Release and that worked fine.
Also I used an AirBake sheet and wondered if the different cooking times were related to what kind of cookie sheet people are using? I cooked them for 35 minutes and they are a little crunchy around the edges and chewy in the middle.
I can’t wait to try them with some dried fruit and maybe a few nuts.
Just linked these to my blog! I’m making them with white chocolate chips and cranberries since that’s what’s in my pantry today! Love your site! 🙂
I’ve just made these for the second time, and I think I’ve done much better! The first batch was just a pile of crumble so I used it as toasted muesli for brekky.
This time I added more honey, and also cooked at a lower temp for a bit longer.
Now I think I’ve learnt that I need to wait longer than 10mins for them to cool and cut- basically wait until they feel cool enough to the touch rather than a time.
But my girl just had one, all the while saying ‘yummy yummy yummy’!
[…] Weelicious Granola Bars Chocolate Chip Granola Bars (makes about 30 bars) […]
Thank you so much for this recipe! I just made my second batch and they are perfect!
I used 2/3 cup dried cranberries (soaked in soy milk for 4 hours then drained) and 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips (I used dairy & soy free chips from whole foods)
Last time I made with 1 cup regular sized chips and it was a little too sweet and too much chocolate, this new combo and the smaller sized chips made them perfect for us.
I followed all directions as stated, except for 2 changes
– I oiled the baking sheet instead of using parchment paper (it worked perfectly)
– I cooked for 35 minutes which made for a perfect slightly chewy texture.
I have an electric WOLF oven that cooks very evenly and true to temp so 35 for chewy and 40 for crunchy is perfect. I think differences in ovens are making for a big difference in baking times from other comments so wanted to mention more details in case it helps anyone.
I am going to make these every week! Thank you for this recipe!
George…
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i just made them with 1/2 chocolate chips 1/2 soaked raisins. Cooked them for about 25 minutes or so. I too found that they are a little too crumbly. Any thoughts on either a little peanut butter or an egg? What have people done?
I love these granola bars. I found that 20 minutes in my oven is the perfect chewy texture and consistency for my and my kids. I make a batch each week. I usually only put in 3/4 of dark chocolate chips but this week I added some chopped up dried cherries – delicious.
Thanks for the recipe
Interesting to see other comments – I made these exactly to recipe with my twins and had to go out and leave husband in charge of the oven – he took them out exactly on time and they were hard as rocks and overcooked – inedible.
Kids and I then whizzed up a fast batch of Scottish flapjacks, which turned out great.
i would think flax seeds would be an easy nutty addition. haven’t tried but i don’t see any reason why not.
Can you leave out the brown sugar? Could you add anything extra to give it more fiber?
[…] I found this scrumptious recipe on one of my favourite food sites, Weelicious. […]
These are awesome! Yummy!!
Why did you sub wheat germ? Is it healthier?? Thanks!