20 Healthy Granola Bar Recipes That Blow Away Store-Bought Junk

Packaged granola bars, whether they’re sold in boxes or individually wrapped, are made mainly for convenience, not nutrition.

So why not make your own?

It’s surprisingly simple to make granola bars at home and ensure they have all the macro- and micronutrients you need. It’s also easy to customize them with or without nuts, dried fruit, chocolate chips, and other goodies.

Now, even with so many options of mix-ins, you might think granola bars can only go so far before losing your interest. It’s just oats and trail mix staples, right?

Not quite.

A granola bar recipe can be as easy as pulsing together peanut butter, oats, and dates in the food processor, but you can also get fancy and make nutrient-dense bars with a long list of tasty ingredients.

And many are baked, of course, but many others can also be as simple as stirring everything up and pressing the mixture into a pan to set.

Whatever your preferences…there’s something in here that you’re going to love. I promise!

Iced Lemon Cookie Granola Bars

Picture courtesy of Go Dairy-Free

Granola bars tend to be loaded with dried fruit and chopped nuts, but there’s another way. This no-bake bar is like a healthy lemon cookie.

In fact, it actually has crunchy lemon cookie pieces mixed in. But unlike most cookies, which have processed flour, these granola bars are mostly made of rolled oats and healthy brown rice cereal.

Serves 16

Ingredients

Granola Bars:

5.5 oz. crispy lemon cookies

2 cups crispy brown rice cereal

1 cup quick or rolled oats

2/3 cup pure honey

2 tsp. lemon zest

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 cup coconut butter

Lemon Icing:

2 tsp. coconut butter

1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/2 cup powdered sugar

Pinch of ground turmeric (for color)

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 175

Protein: 2 grams

Carbs: 32 grams

Fat: 5 grams

 

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3-Minute High-Protein Granola Bars

Picture courtesy of Chocolate-Covered Katie

Want to take the first step into making your own protein bars? This recipe is a great place to start.

There’s hardly any time investment required and it’s easy to adapt to your taste by using your favorite protein powder – any flavor you have on hand will probably work.

Chocolate would be delicious, of course, or you can add mini chocolate chips on top.

Serves 10

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups quick oats or rolled oats

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup agave syrup (or honey)

2/3 cup WHEY+ vanilla protein powder

Handful of mini chocolate chips (optional)

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 207

Protein: 12 grams

Carbs: 25 grams

Fat: 7 grams

 

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Apricot Almond Crunchy Granola Bars

Picture courtesy of Food 52

If your go-to energy bar is the Kind brand – known for a blend of crunchy nuts and chewy dried fruit with a glazed holding it all together – try this recipe for an easy homemade version.

There’s no oil, so all the fat content comes from coconut, almonds, and cashews. The only thing about these granola bars is, like the original, they’re prone to stickiness and should be kept cool to keep it under wraps.

Pack these in lunchboxes and gym bags rather than bringing them on the hot hiking trail.

Serves 8

Ingredients

1/3 cup pure honey

2 Tbsp. coconut flour

1 Tbsp. almond butter

1/8 tsp. sea salt

1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

1 cup chopped almonds

1/3 cup chopped cashews

1/2 cup chopped dried apricots

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 241

Protein: 5 grams

Carbs: 22 grams

Fat: 17 grams

 

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Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Bars

Picture courtesy of Simply Sissom

Premade granola bars that taste like a Reese’s peanut butter cup can win big in the flavor department, yet fall short when it comes to nutritional benefits.

Even the varieties with protein, like Jif peanut butter bars, have more sugar than anything else, and you’ll be eating hydrogenated oils too.

These homemade granola bars have ground flaxseed for healthy fats, plus just a teaspoon of pure honey per serving.

Serves 12

Ingredients

2 cups rolled oats

1 scoop WHEY+ chocolate protein isolate

2 Tbsp. ground flaxseed

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup pure honey

1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp. unsweetened almond milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/3 cup dark chocolate chunks

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 154

Protein: 6 grams

Carbs: 21 grams

Fat: 7 grams

 

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5-Ingredient Protein Granola Bars

Picture courtesy of Chew Out Loud

Even if you’re intimidated by baking, these granola bars are within reach. All you need is a pot to put on the stove, a square pan to go in the oven, and five ingredients to mix together.

Aside from the oats, the main ingredient is protein powder – and lots of it. Of course you can use vanilla, a flavor you probably keep in the kitchen at all times, but luckily this recipe is so simple it’s easy to adapt to other flavors, like Legion WHEY+ cookies and cream.

Serves 10

Ingredients

1/2 cup milk

1 cup chunky peanut butter

2 Tbsp. pure honey (or more to taste)

1 1/4 cups (about 4 scoops) WHEY+ vanilla protein isolate

2 cups rolled oats

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 277

Protein: 18 grams

Carbs: 22 grams

Fat: 14 grams

 

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Quinoa Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Picture courtesy of iFoodReal

Quinoa isn’t just nutritious but makes your bars extra crunchy too. Otherwise, the taste here is really familiar with almonds, honey, and chocolate chips.

Since they’re baked, these protein bars have the unique added benefit of egg whites as a protein-rich binder to hold all the goodness together.

Serves 16

Ingredients

1 3/4 cup quick oats

1 cup quinoa

1/2 cup steel cut oats

1/2 cup almonds, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup ground flaxseed

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/2 tsp. salt

2–3 large (1/2 cup) egg whites

1/2 cup honey (or brown rice syrup)

1/2 cup coconut oil, melted

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 277

Protein: 6 grams

Carbs: 32 grams

Fat: 14 grams

 

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Get Up & Goji Bars

Picture courtesy of Life-Shapers

There’s no better place to go for variety in your portable energy bars than Power Hungry, where you’ll find this recipe.

This cookbook has recipes for various granola bars like Greek yogurt muesli, breakfast bars like Chai tea, and even desserts like chocolate-mint fudge protein cookies. If you’re stuck in a rut with raisins and cranberries, you’ll love the unique flavor of goji berries paired with coconut and cardamom.

Serves 16

Ingredients

1 cup packed pitted soft dates

1 cup warm water

1/3 cup natural sunflower butter

1/2 tsp. ground cardamom

2/3 cup dried goji berries, finely chopped

1/2 cup raw cashews, chopped

1/2 cup unsweetened coconut (flaked or shredded)

1/3 cup chia seeds or poppy seeds

2 Tbsp. ground flaxseed

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 128

Protein: 3 grams

Carbs: 16 grams

Fat: 7 grams

 

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Baked Oatmeal Snack Bars

Picture courtesy of Recipe Hubs

Granola bars don’t have to be crunchy or chewy. These are soft and crumbly, more like cake or a healthy alternative to brownies.

To make a texture that’s closer to a baked good, the batter uses an egg and milk. Aside from that, you’ll still find favorite mix-ins like walnuts, seeds, and dried fruit like figs or raisins.

Serves 9

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup dried fruit

1/4 cup sunflower seeds (or seeds of choice)

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. salt

1 1/4 cups skim milk (or non-dairy milk)

1 large egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 156

Protein: 6 grams

Carbs: 16 grams

Fat: 8 grams

 

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Hemp Protein Granola Bars

Picture courtesy of My New Roots

It’s important to get enough protein, of course, but it’s also a good idea to mix up the sources of protein in your diet.

Hemp powder is about 50% protein by weight so these don’t have the lean macros you might see on the nutrition label of packaged bars, but they’re made of whole foods, all healthy ingredients that you can source the quality of yourself.

Serves 12

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups rolled oats

3/4 cup walnuts, chopped

1 cup dates, chopped

1 cup coconut flakes

1/2 cup hemp protein powder

1/4 cup sesame seeds

2 Tbsp. poppy seeds

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

3 ripe bananas

1/4 cup sunflower oil

2 tsp. vanilla extract

3 Tbsp. maple syrup

2 Tbsp. chia seeds

6 Tbsp. water

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 326

Protein: 11 grams

Carbs: 36 grams

Fat: 17 grams

 

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Feel Good Hearty Granola Bars

Picture courtesy of Oh She Glows

When you need a granola bar for a long hike or run, be sure to pack one of these in your bag to refuel when your energy level starts to dip.

They’re loaded with the same good-for-you ingredients that you’d want in a nutritious trail mix: walnuts, almonds, dried fruit, and seeds. And what holds them together isn’t oil or syrup, but mashed banana.

That’s right – these granola bars have absolutely no added sugar.

Serves 14

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 bananas)

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup dried cherries, chopped

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup pepitas

1/2 cup sliced almonds

1/4 cup hemp hearts

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. salt (or more to taste)

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 197

Protein: 7 grams

Carbs: 20 grams

Fat: 11 grams

 

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3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Picture courtesy of Minimalist Baker

This is a great snack for everyone – from busy moms who need an on-the-go treat to appease picky eaters or sensitive tummies, to vegans who want something to make in a jiffy and have on hand for whenever hunger strikes.

You’ll need a food processor, but there’s no oven required. And these will keep in the fridge for a couple weeks or the freezer for at least a couple months.

Serves 8

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups pitted dates (about 32), soaked in warm water for 10 minutes if not sticky and moist

1/2 cup creamy salted peanut butter

1/2 cup rolled oats

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 214

Protein: 7 grams

Carbs: 31 grams

Fat: 9 grams

 

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Nut-Free Homemade Granola Bars

Picture courtesy of Yummy Mummy Club

A lot of granola bars will use peanut butter or chopped nuts for protein as well as filling, healthy fats. But maybe you don’t love the flavor, or need to keep it food allergy-friendly.

This recipe uses coconut oil, so there’s no need to mix in nut butter. Like all fats that are naturally occurring in nature, coconut oil comes with health benefits such as boosting your immune system, improving skin quality, and even staving off diabetes.

Serves 12

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups rolled oats

1 cup puffed rice cereal

2 Tbsp. ground flaxseed

1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1 cup mixed dried fruit

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips (optional)

1/3 cup pure honey (or maple syrup)

1/4 cup coconut oil

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 tsp. salt

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 239

Protein: 3 grams

Carbs: 29 grams

Fat: 13 grams

 

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Chia, Quinoa & Banana Granola Bars

Picture courtesy of Ambitious Kitchen

Have a Clif bar habit? These homemade granola bars will replace them with wholesome nutrition and save you money in the process.

The mixture starts with a combo of oats, quinoa, and chia seeds for complex carbs and healthy fats that will keep you full. Then, add any of your favorite dried fruits and chopped nuts to customize these snack bars.

Serves 10

Ingredients

1 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup uncooked quinoa, pre-rinsed

2 Tbsp. chia seeds

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

2 ripe bananas, mashed

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 cup roughly chopped almonds

1/4 cup chopped pecans

1/3 cup raisins (or dried cranberries)

1/4 cup almond butter

2 Tbsp. pure honey (or maple syrup)

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 198

Protein: 5 grams

Carbs: 27 grams

Fat: 9 grams

 

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Soft & Chewy Protein Granola Bars

Picture courtesy of Running with Spoons

If you’re hooked on the packaged chewy granola bars, why not make some at home?

That way you can add everything you want – like protein powder and ground flaxseed – while leaving out the unnecessary extras like corn syrup, preservatives like BHT, and artificial flavors.

For chewier bars, be sure to use quick oats and not the old-fashioned kind. They’re rolled down to be thinner, which not only helps them cook faster but will affect the texture in a granola bar so the oats will better meld together.

Serves 12

Ingredients

2 cups quick oats

1/2 cup (about 2 scoops) WHEY+ vanilla protein isolate

2 Tbsp. ground flaxseed

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 cup almond butter

1/4 cup pure honey (or brown rice syrup)

1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 169

Protein: 7 grams

Carbs: 21 grams

Fat: 7 grams

 

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Superfood Granola Bars

Picture courtesy of The Fitchen

This recipe has everything you could want in a granola bar: oats, millet, peanut butter, three kinds of fruit, three kinds of seeds, and coconut oil.

With both raw honey and brown rice syrup to sweeten up these superfood bars, you’ll use a little bit of everything in your healthy pantry.

Of course, you can also swap out the exact ingredients to taste – like almond butter for peanut butter, or dried mulberries instead of cranberries.

Serves 8

Ingredients

1 cup rolled oats (1/2 ground to flour)

1/4 cup raw pepitas

1/4 cup raw cashew pieces

1/4 cup millet

2 Tbsp. raw sunflower seeds

1 Tbsp. oat groats

5 dried Turkish apricots

2 Tbsp. flax seeds

2 Tbsp. seedless raisins

2 Tbsp. dried unsweetened cranberries

1/3 cup brown rice syrup

1 Tbsp. peanut butter

1 Tbsp. honey

1/2 Tbsp. coconut oil

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 263

Protein: 6 grams

Carbs: 47 grams

Fat: 8 grams

 

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Healthy Almond Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Picture courtesy of Cookie and Kate

These no-bake granola bars are shockingly easy to make, and you’ll wind up with a snack that’s better tasting, better looking, and better for you than the store-bought kind.

And since they don’t have to go in the oven, you can sweeten the chocolate chip bars with raw honey and reap all the health benefits.

Pure honey is full of antioxidants, aids digestion, and can help with pollen allergies as long as you look for a local source.

Serves 16

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups quick oats

1 1/3 cups sliced almonds

2/3 cup mini dark chocolate chips

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt (or more to taste)

1 cup almond butter

1/2 cup pure honey

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 266

Protein: 7 grams

Carbs: 25 grams

Fat: 17 grams

 

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Crunchy Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Picture courtesy of Bites for Foodies

Can’t decide between a crunchy granola bar and a chewy one? These deliver the best of both in one bite. Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, they’re like a homemade peanut butter cookie turned granola bar.

They’re also quick to assemble, ready in about a half hour. Allow them to cool before being sliced, and then store extras in the fridge for a week or the freezer for up to three months.

Serves 8

Ingredients

2 cups rolled oats

2 Tbsp. extra-virgin coconut oil

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/3 cup raw honey

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. sea salt

1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips (optional)

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 291

Protein: 7 grams

Carbs: 35 grams

Fat: 16 grams

 

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Honey Mustard Granola Bar

Picture courtesy of Fannetastic Food

A lot of granola bar recipes opt for pure honey as a sweetener. That’s because it can help hold them together while providing all-natural, unprocessed sugar.

It goes well with fruit and nuts, of course, but honey can also be great in savory snacks. This recipe still has oats, puffed rice, and almond butter.

However, you’ll also find unexpected seasonings like black pepper, thyme, and irresistible honey mustard.

Serves 12

Ingredients

2 cups puffed brown rice cereal

1 1/2 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup whole almonds, toasted

1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted

3/4 tsp. salt

Pinch of black pepper

1 tsp. dried thyme

2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

1/2 cup pure honey

1/2 cup almond butter

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 214

Protein: 6 grams

Carbs: 29 grams

Fat: 11 grams

 

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No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars

Picture courtesy of Keeper of the Home

The boxed chewy bars found in grocery and convenience stores might have put granola bars on the map – or more accurately, in backpacks worldwide. But the list of ingredients is so long with unnecessary items like caramel color, artificial sweeteners, and BHT. Yuck.

Simplify with these made-from-scratch bars that are wholesome and more satisfying than anything in a foil wrapper.

Serves 12

Ingredients

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup raw cane sugar

2 cups oats

1 cup puffed millet

1 tsp. vanilla

1/4 cup roasted pumpkin seeds

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 141

Protein: 2 grams

Carbs: 20 grams

Fat: 6 grams

 

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Savory Oat Bars with Olives & Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Picture courtesy of Anja’s Food 4 Thought

Want a low-sugar granola bar without artificial sweeteners? Go savory. Oats have a mild flavor that works with almost any other ingredients.

Since there’s nothing inherently sweet about granola, you can switch things up with seasonings like oregano, cumin, and chili flakes.

And instead of the usual dried fruits, this recipe mixes in sun-dried tomatoes and olives, which are delicious with the almond oatmeal base.

Serves 9

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups rolled oats

1 cup milk

1 tsp. sea salt

2 Tbsp. dried oregano

2 Tbsp. ground flaxseed

1 tsp. cumin seeds

1/2 tsp. chili flakes

1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped

1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and finely chopped

1/4 cup almonds, roughly chopped

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 106

Protein: 4 grams

Carbs: 14 grams

Fat: 4 grams

 

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What did you think of these healthy granola bars? Have anything else to share? Let me know in the comments below!