Chewy Homemade Granola Bars (healthy + gluten-free)

These Chewy Homemade Granola Bars are the perfect healthy snack! They’re soft, extra chewy, and have the perfect crunch. You’ll never go back to store-bought granola bars again! Gluten-free, refined sugar-free, with a vegan option!

Homemade Granola Bar Ingredients

You only need 7 ingredients to make these homemade granola bars!

Here’s exactly what you’ll need:

• Rolled Oats (here is a gluten-free brand)
• Sprouted Brown Rice Crisps Cereal (find it on amazon)
• Peanut Butter or Nut Butter of Choice
• Optional Protein Powder (I use this unflavored one)
• Honey or Maple Syrup
• Plant Based Milk
• Mini Chocolate Chips (I use this dairy-free brand)

Some optional add-ins:

• Pink Himalayan Salt
• Chopped Peanuts (or nut of choice)
• Seeds (chia, hemp, flax)
• Cacao nibs

How to make homemade granola bars stick together

• Sticky Natural Sweetener: The maple syrup or honey we use in this recipe helps hold the homemade granola bars together. 

How chewy are these healthy granola bars?

These healthy granola bars are the chewiest!!! I don’t know how else to put it. They also have the perfect crunch to them from the brown rice crisps. The texture may vary depending on if you add protein powder and what kind you use. See down below, which kind of protein powder I use to make these bars extra chewy!

Grass-fed whey protein powder is my secret weapon in this recipe. Plus it’s unflavored so you can actually taste the oats, honey, and other ingredients perfectly. Don’t have unflavored protein powder? Don’t worry! See the list of easy swaps below!

This recipe is flexible!

• Optional Protein Powder: I prefer using an unflavored protein powder, but you can use whatever protein powder you would like in this recipe. Use a plant-based protein powder to keep this recipe vegan and dairy-free!

• Sticky Sweetener: I love the flavor of honey in this recipe. However, you can use maple syrup or any natural sticky sweetener of choice!

• Nut butter: Make this recipe nut-free by using sunflower seed butter! You can use any nut butter of your choosing; such as almond butter, cashew butter, or even PB fit peanut butter powder.

• Brown Rice Crisps: Can’t find brown rice crisps? That’s a’okay! Just use plain crispy rice cereal. 

• Add-ins: Be creative and add whatever tickles your fancy! Chopped peanuts, almonds, chia seeds, cacao nibs, or flax seeds are all great add-ins. 

How to make healthy granola bars at home

Making these homemade granola bars is so simple!

Just follow these 3 easy steps:

1. Make the dough. Dump all the ingredients in a medium bowl and mix it up! Press the peanut butter around with the back of a large spoon to ensure it is evenly dispersed. 

2. Form the bars. Line a 1.5-quart baking dish with parchment paper and press the dough into it. Compact the dough so that the bars stick together and hold their shape. (You can use the back of a measuring cup to do this)  

3. Chill. Cut. Enjoy! Freeze or refrigerate the bars for at least 15 minutes before cutting them and chowing down!

Where to store homemade granola bars?

• Can you freeze homemade granola bars? Absolutely. It’s amazing how well these granola bars keep in the freezer! You pull one out and the texture is still just as chewy! No rock hard granola bars here. 

• How do you freeze homemade granola bars? Place the chewy homemade granola bars in an airtight container or zip lock bag and they will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 3 months! (they will still be chewy straight from freezer!)

• Can you store homemade granola bars in the fridge? Yes! The fridge is a great place to keep homemade granola bars fresh. Store homemade granola bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month!

• Can you store these granola bars at room temperature? These bars can be stored in an airtight container or resealable bag at room temperature for up to one week. 

More Healthy Oat Recipes:

• The Best Chocolate Granola (Vegan)
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownie Skillet
• Energizing Matcha Overnight Oats
• Healthy Chocolate Chip Cherry Cookies

I cannot wait for you to give these Chewy Homemade Granola bars a try! Please snap a picture and share it with me! 

Seeing your kitchen creations makes my day and encourages me to keep creating new recipes for you!

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Yield: 12 bars

Chewy Homemade Granola Bars (healthy + gluten-free)

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These Chewy Homemade Granola Bars are the perfect healthy snack! They’re soft, extra chewy, and have the perfect crunch. You’ll never go back to store-bought granola bars again! Protein packed, vegan, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Chill Time 30 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

Wet

• 2 flax eggs (2 Tbs. ground flax + 4 Tbs. water. Let thicken for 5 minutes)
• ¾ cup natural peanut butter or almond butter (code "SHH20" for free shipping on my favorite brand)
• ⅓ cup pure maple syrup or honey
• ½ tsp. vanilla extract

Dry

• 1¼ cup rolled oats
• ¾ cup crispy brown rice cereal or plain rice Krispie cereal
• ⅛ tsp. pink Himalayan salt
• ¼ cup dairy-free mini chocolate chips
• optional: 1 scoop protein powder (I love using this unflavored grass-fed brand) or you can use a vegan protein powder or collagen

Optional Add-ins

• chopped peanuts or nut of choice, chia seeds, hemp seeds, flax seeds, cacao nibs, dried fruit

Instructions

1. Line a 1½ quart baking dish (or 8x8 inch pan) with parchment paper and set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, mix together all wet ingredients until smooth. Add in all dry ingredients and mix until combined.

3. Transfer to a parchment-lined dish and spread into an even layer. Use the back of a measuring cup or spoon to compress the mixture down evenly. Place the bars in the freezer for at least 30 minutes or until set.

4. Remove from pan and cut into rectangle bars (should make about 18 bars). Enjoy! Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or freeze for 3 months or longer.

Notes

*This recipe makes about 12-18 granola bars.

1. Look for peanut butter with only “peanuts” or “peanuts and salt” as the ingredients. I love this brand! You can swap in any nut butter of choice too. Use sunflower seed butter to keep this recipe nut-free! Use code "shh20" for free shipping!
2. You can use any size dish. Just form the bars into the shape that you want them.

Be sure to tag @secretlyhealthyhome on Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest with a picture of your healthy snack!

I love seeing your kitchen creations so please leave a comment and rate the recipe if you make it! It really helps support me and encourages me to keep making recipes for you!

Recommended Products

There are affiliate links on this site. I do earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you the buyer. Thank you for supporting Secretly Healthy Home!

• 
  Grass-Fed Whey Protein Powder
• 
  1.5 Quart Baking Dish
• 
  Hemp Seeds
• 
  Creamy Peanut Butter (just peanuts!)
• 
  Dairy-Free Mini Chocolate Chips
• 
  Honey
• 
  Sprouted Brown Rice Crisps
• 
  Gluten-Free Rolled Oats

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

18
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 131Total Fat: 7.4gTrans Fat: 0gCarbohydrates: 22.2gNet Carbohydrates: 20gFiber: 2.2gSugar: 2.6gProtein: 4.2g

Did you make this recipe?

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