Introduction
Remember those days when a perfectly chewy, satisfying granola bar was the ultimate afternoon pick-me-up? Maybe it was something you grabbed on the go, or perhaps a special treat your mom or grandma used to make. Well, get ready to relive those good vibes because we’re whipping up a batch of homemade granola bars that are so incredibly easy and delicious, they’ll become your new go-to! Packed with wholesome oats, sweet raisins, and melty chocolate chips, these bars are a hug in edible form. You won’t believe how simple they are to make!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fast: You can have these ready to bake in under 15 minutes!
- Easy: Seriously, if you can stir, you can make these. No fancy techniques required.
- Giftable: Package them up in pretty cellophane bags tied with ribbon – instant thoughtful gifts!
- Crowd-pleasing: From kids to adults, everyone adores the classic combo of oats, raisins, and chocolate.
Ingredients
Gather ’round, my friends! Here’s what you’ll need to create these little bites of happiness:
- 1 cup oat flour: This is the base! If you don’t have oat flour, no worries! Just pop 1 cup of rolled oats into your food processor or blender and pulse until you have a fine flour. Easy peasy!
- 1 teaspoon baking powder: This helps give our bars a little lift.
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda: Works with the baking powder to ensure a nice texture.
- 1/2 teaspoon salt: Don’t skip this! It balances out the sweetness and brings out all the flavors.
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon: My secret weapon for cozy, warm flavor.
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature: Make sure it’s soft so it creams beautifully with the sugar.
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar: This is what makes them wonderfully chewy and caramel-y.
- 1 large egg: Our binder!
- 1/4 cup honey: For natural sweetness and that signature chewiness.
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce: Adds moisture without extra fat, making these bars extra tender.
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract: A little splash of pure vanilla goodness goes a long way.
- 2 cups quick oats: These are the stars of the show, giving our bars that perfect hearty texture.
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips: Because, well, chocolate! Dark chocolate offers a lovely richness.
- 1/2 cup raisins: For those delightful bursts of chewy sweetness.
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans: Adds a nice crunch and nutty flavor.
How to Make It
Alright, let’s get our aprons on and dive in! This is going to be so much fun.
- First things first, let’s get our oven preheated to 350°F (175°C). While it’s warming up, grab an 8×8 inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper. I like to leave a little overhang on the sides – it makes it super easy to lift the bars out later!
- In a medium bowl, grab a whisk and combine your dry ingredients: the oat flour (or ground oats), baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Give them a good whisk to make sure everything is nicely distributed.
- Now, in a larger bowl, it’s time to cream our butter and brown sugar. Use an electric mixer or a sturdy whisk to beat them together until they’re light and fluffy. This step is key for a good texture!
- Next, beat in the egg, honey, applesauce, and vanilla extract. Mix until everything is beautifully combined and smooth.
- It’s time to bring our dry and wet ingredients together! Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet mixture, mixing gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix here; we want tender bars!
- Now for the best part – stirring in all those delicious mix-ins! Add the quick oats, dark chocolate chips, raisins, and chopped pecans. Stir everything together until it’s all evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Spoon the mixture into your prepared baking pan and spread it out evenly. I find using a spatula or the back of a spoon helps to get it nice and uniform.
- Pop your pan into the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. You’re looking for the edges to be a lovely golden brown and the center to look set, not gooey.
- This is perhaps the hardest part: letting them cool completely in the pan! I know, I know, the temptation is real. But trust me, cooling completely is crucial for clean cuts and the perfect chewy texture. Once cooled, use those parchment paper overhangs to lift the whole slab out, and then cut them into your desired bar size.
Substitutions & Additions
Feeling a little creative? I love how adaptable this recipe is! Here are some ideas:
- Nuts: Swap pecans for walnuts, almonds, or even sunflower seeds for a nut-free option.
- Dried Fruit: Craving something different? Try dried cranberries, chopped dried apricots, or even some dried blueberries.
- Chocolate: Milk chocolate chips or white chocolate chips are equally delicious! Mini chocolate chips work great too.
- Spices: A pinch of nutmeg or a tiny bit of ground ginger can add a lovely depth of flavor.
- Seeds: Add in some chia seeds or flax seeds for an extra nutritional boost.
Tips for Success
A few little pointers from my kitchen to yours to make these bars absolutely perfect:
- Room Temperature Butter is Key: Make sure your butter is truly softened, not melted. This helps create that light and fluffy base.
- Don’t Overbake: Keep an eye on them towards the end of the baking time. Overbaking can lead to dry, crumbly bars.
- Cooling is Crucial: I cannot stress this enough! Resist the urge to cut them while warm. Patience will reward you with perfectly formed bars.
- Prep Ahead: You can measure out all your dry ingredients the night before and store them in an airtight container. Then, in the morning, all you have to do is mix the wet ingredients and combine!
How to Store It
Once your delicious homemade granola bars have cooled completely and you’ve cut them, they’re ready to be stored. You can keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for about 3-4 days. If you want them to last a bit longer, they’ll keep nicely in the refrigerator for up to a week. They also freeze beautifully – just wrap them individually in parchment paper and then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months!
FAQs
Got questions? I’ve got answers!
- Can I make these gluten-free? Yes! Just ensure your oat flour and oats are certified gluten-free.
- Are these bars chewy or crunchy? These are designed to be wonderfully chewy, thanks to the brown sugar, honey, and applesauce.
- What if I don’t have applesauce? You can substitute with an equal amount of mashed banana or even a little extra honey and a splash more melted butter, though they might be a touch less moist.
The Easiest Homemade Granola Bars
Whipping up a batch of homemade granola bars that are so incredibly easy and delicious, they'll become your new go-to! Packed with wholesome oats, sweet raisins, and melty chocolate chips, these bars are a hug in edible form.
Equipment
- Food processor for making oat flour
- Baking pan 8x8 inch
- Parchment paper
- Medium bowl
- Whisk
- Large bowl
- Electric mixer or sturdy whisk
- Spatula
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup oat flour or ground rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 0.5 teaspoon baking soda
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Wet Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
- 0.5 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 0.25 cup honey
- 0.25 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
Mix-ins
- 2 cups quick oats
- 0.5 cup dark chocolate chips
- 0.5 cup raisins
- 0.5 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhangs.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together oat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.1 cup oat flour
- In a larger bowl, cream together softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.1 cup oat flour
- Beat in the egg, honey, applesauce, and vanilla extract until combined.1 cup oat flour
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until just combined. Do not overmix.1 cup oat flour
- Stir in the quick oats, chocolate chips, raisins, and chopped pecans until evenly distributed.1 cup oat flour
- Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking pan and spread evenly.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center is set.
- Let cool completely in the pan before lifting out and cutting into bars.
Notes
For gluten-free bars, ensure oat flour and oats are certified gluten-free. These bars are designed to be chewy. If applesauce is unavailable, substitute with mashed banana or extra honey and melted butter.