Chewy Granola Bars (Nut-Free)

Chewy granola bars – the perfect snack

• Save money: Just like my energy cookies, these soft and chewy oat bars are a great alternative to store-bought granola bars.
• Meal-prep friendly: They’re a great item for your weekly meal prep routine as they store well for up to 5 days.
• Nut-free snack: Just like my wholemeal muffins and cranberry oatmeal cookies, they’re nut-free and make a delicious school snack if the school has food allergies guidelines. They’re a firm staple in my kids’ school lunches!

Ingredients and substitutions

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

• Butter: You can use unsalted or salted butter for this recipe. If using salted simply omit the salt. Alternatively, you can substitute the butter with coconut oil to make dairy-free granola bars.
• Sugar: I love the rich flavor and color of brown sugar gives these bars but it also works with granulated sugar.
• Honey: Honey provides flavor and extra sweetness for this recipe and helps bind the ingredients together. I use runny clover honey but you choose whatever flavor honey you prefer. You can also use agave or maple syrup, agave syrup, or golden syrup.
• Oats: Rolled, scotch, quick oats all work well for this recipe.
• Flour & baking soda: I use all-purpose flour to help bind all ingredients together and the baking soda ensures the will be nice and chewy. You can also use white spelt flour.
• Coconut and seeds: Desiccated coconut and a variety of seeds add extra texture and nutrients to these bars. As long as the overall quantity remains the same you can substitute one for another and adjust the quantities of each to suit your taste.

Variations

1. Chocolate: Add some milk or dark chocolate chips to the mix for some extra indulgence.
2. Dried fruit: You can easily substitute the raisins with sultanas or other dried fruit of your choice to match your taste. Chopped apricots, dates, and currants are good alternatives.
3. Go nuts: You can easily replace all or some of the seeds with finely chopped nuts. Almonds, cashews, walnuts, and macadamia work well. Add a tablespoon of peanut butter or almond butter for some extra nuttiness.

Storage tips

Homemade granola bars store well in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Yes, you can store them in a freezer-proof container in the freezer for up to 3 months. I suggest cutting it into squares or bars prior so you can thaw individual servings by defrosting them for 4 hours at room temperature.

More easy snack ideas

If you like this easy snack, make sure to check out the following recipes as well:

• Seed crackers
• Soft pretzels
• Cheese rolls