Description
These homemade granola bars are better than store-bought. They are sweetened with dates and have a chewy texture. You can customize them into four flavors: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Cranberry Almond, Blueberry Cashew, and Apple Cinnamon. They can be made vegan, gluten free, and nut free.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ¼ cups old fashioned whole rolled oats
- ¾ cup chopped, unsalted peanuts
- 8 oz pitted and halved Medjool dates (about 16 dates, depending on size)
- 3 tablespoons honey
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter (no sugar added)
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
- Optional: add 1 tsp lemon zest
- Omit chocolate chips and add in 3/4 cup chopped dried blueberries
- Substitute chopped peanuts with chopped cashews (unsalted)
- Substitute peanut butter with cashew butter
- Omit chocolate chips and add in 3/4 cup chopped dried cranberries
- Substitute chopped peanuts with chopped almonds (unsalted)
- Substitute peanut butter with almond butter
- Optional: add 1 tsp orange zest and sub 1/2 tsp vanilla extract with 1/2 tsp almond extract
- Omit chocolate chips and add in 3/4 cup chopped dried apples
- Substitute chopped peanuts with sunflower or pumpkin seeds
- Substitute peanut butter with 3/4 cup sunflower butter
Instructions
- Add the dates to a bowl, cover with very hot water and soak for 5-10 minutes to soften. Reserve a few tablespoons of the water, then drain the dates.
- Place the dates in a food processor with 1 tablespoon of the reserved water. Pulse several times until it forms a mostly smooth paste. Add in another tablespoon of water if needed. Measure out 3/4 cup of date paste, and reserve any leftovers in the refrigerator.
- Line a 9×9 baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, stir together 3/4 cup of date paste, honey, nut/seed butter, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt. If you are adding zest, other extracts, or spices, add them at this time.
- Add the oats, dried fruit, chopped nuts, and any other mix-ins, and stir thoroughly to combine.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and press firmly into the pan. Freeze for 1 hour (or up to overnight).
- Preheat the oven to 325˚F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Remove the bars from the freezer. Transfer the granola bars to a cutting board. Slice in half lengthwise, then cut each half into 6 evenly-sized bars for 12 bars total.
- Transfer to the baking sheet and bake for 20-22 minutes, until they are light golden brown on the bottom. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
Notes
- Customize flavors to your preference.
- Store bars in an airtight container.
- Prep Time: 50 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 311
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 12.8g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10.8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42.4g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 7.7g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Granola Bars, Healthy Snacks, Homemade, Vegan, Gluten Free, Flavor Variations