Soft and Chewy Granola Bars
- PREP 20min
- COOK 10min
- TOTAL 30min
These homemade granola bars are much better than what you can buy at the store, especially since you can substitute for your favorite dried fruit or nuts. You need to chill the bars for at least 2 hours before cutting them.
You Will Need
2 ½ cups (230g) old fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup (80g) whole almonds, coarsely chopped
1/3 cup (113g) pure honey
1/4 cup (56g) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/4 cup (50g) packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 cup (60g) dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons (65g) mini chocolate chips
Directions
Toast Oats and Nuts
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch or 9-inch square pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
Add the oats and chopped almonds to a small baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes. Stir and bake another 3 to 5 minutes or until lightly toasted. Transfer to a large bowl.
Make Bars
Combine the butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the butter melts, the mixture bubbles, and the sugar dissolves.
Pour the butter mixture into the bowl with toasted oats and almonds. Mix well. Let cool for 5 minutes.
Stir in the cranberries and 1/4 cup of the mini chocolate chips. Some of the chocolate chips might melt, but they turn into glue and help hold the bars together.
Transfer the oat mixture to the prepared pan and press it into the pan firmly using a rubber spatula. Press hard so that the bars will stay together once cooled and cut. We press for about one minute to be extra safe.
Scatter the remaining 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips over the pressed granola mixture, and then use a rubber spatula to gently press them into the top.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Remove the block of granola mixture from the pan and peel away the foil or parchment. Cut into 12 bars.
Storing
Store granola bars in an airtight container for a few weeks in the fridge. For the softest bars, keep them in a cool area of your kitchen (like a dark pantry). For firmer bars, store in the fridge. Bars will keep in the freezer for up to three months when wrapped well.
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- Reducing the sugar: We have experienced the best results when making these bars with the sugar and honey amount listed in the recipe. You can try reducing the sugar a little, but they might be a little more crumbly. The honey and sugar mixture keeps these chewy.
- Honey substitutes: Try something that is still sticky like brown rice syrup or golden syrup.
- The nutrition facts provided below are estimates.