Homemade Granola Bars are the answer to busy mornings and hurried afternoon snacks. With bits of oats, almond butter, honey and chocolate, these come together in a snap. All you need is a few pantry staples and a couple hours in the fridge — no oven required.
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About this Homemade Granola Bar recipe
Mornings are not my thing. I wake up at the last possible second (or later) and grab a granola bar to munch on while I fix a cup of coffee. But, man, can granola bars get expensive! They’re surprisingly simple to make at home, and easily customizable to boot. Plus, you create less waste without the wrappers.
This version brings together the familiar flavors of oats, rice cereal, almond butter, vanilla, honey and chocolate. And, you can make them gluten-free if you pay attention to your ingredients!
If yours wind up falling apart (my first batch did — I didn’t press the mixture into the pan firmly enough), you can but the chunks in a bowl and eat them with yogurt. No matter how you do it, if you’re a granola bar fan like me, these homemade and perfectly chewy granola bars will make your mornings a thousand watts brighter.
Note from the author
2026 update: This granola bar recipe has been on the site since 2014 and recently got a full update — new recipe, new photos and everything you need to make bars that hold their shape and taste great. My originals had pumpkin seeds and a pinch of pumpkin pie spice *, which you can absolutely add back if you like!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Uses pantry staples. The best part of making homemade recipes is you can choose your own ingredients. These need a few things you might already have on hand or can easily pick up at the grocery store.
- Quick and easy. This beginner-friendly, no-bake recipe comes together in a snap. All it needs is a little mixing and chill time in the fridge.
- Perfect for mornings and snacks. Anyone who loves a quick granola bar will love having these on hand when the moment calls for them!
Ingredients & essentials
👇 For full measurements and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to the printable recipe card. It’s all there waiting for you!
These easy granola bars call for simple pantry staples. Start with rolled oats (or old-fashioned oats), crispy rice cereal and ground flaxseed to make the base.
To sweeten the bars and bind the ingredients together, honey, almond butter, coconut oil and vanilla extract * all pull double duty. A pinch of salt helps to balance the flavors. (Use maple syrup instead of honey for a plant-based option.)
Then you can add your favorite mix-ins. Stir in everything from chopped nuts to mini chocolate chips (those always get my vote). I also like adding pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, raisins or dried cranberries sometimes. Have fun with these!
baking essentials
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Mix-ins & toppings
Mix things up by stirring in your favorite mix-ins or add them as toppings before you let them set. I love doing this because then they are extra pretty on top! (A great way to elevate them if you are serving these at an event.) Here are a few ideas:
- seeds: Mix in pumpkin seeds, chia seeds or sunflower seeds.
- nuts: Try a mix of pistachios, pecans, hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds and/or peanuts.
- dried fruit: Stir in raisins, dried cranberries, cherries or blueberries — or any other soft dried fruit you like.
- chocolate: Add sweetness with mini M&M’s, chopped chocolate, mini chocolate chips, mini peanut butter chips.
- drizzles: Drizzle melted chocolate, white chocolate or peanut butter chips over already-chilled and chopped bars.
Instructions
These come together in no time. Once you mix everything, there’s no baking — just a couple hours in the fridge is all you need!
Start by lining an 8×8-inch (20×20 cm) baking pan with parchment paper *, leaving a bit of overhang for easy lifting out of the pan later.
- In a large bowl, combine rolled oats, crisp rice cereal, ground flaxseed, salt and mini chocolate chips. Stir to evenly distribute.
- In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, warm honey, almond butter and coconut oil until fully melted and smooth. Do not boil. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract *.
- Pour the warm mixture over the dry ingredients.
- Stir until everything is well coated.
- Transfer mixture into the prepared pan and press down very firmly. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until fully set.
- Lift out using parchment overhang and slice into 12 bars.
For bars that hold their shapes, press down well. Use the back of a spoon, the bottom of a glass or the bottom of a measuring cup. Compacting tightly is key for clean slices.
Tips & tricks
- Press the mixture down very firmly. Use the back of a spoon, the bottom of a glass or the bottom of a measuring cup for the best results.
- Don’t boil the wet ingredients. Simply warm them over medium-low heat just until melted and smooth
- Let the bars chill the full two hours before slicing for clean cuts.
Serving suggestions
Pair them with a cozy cinnamon latte or a hearty mixed berry smoothie for breakfast or after a workout. They make great snacks, too. Add them to lunch boxes or stash them in a cooler for road trips and hikes.
Wrap the granola bars individually in wax paper or keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. They can be frozen for up to two months, too. Either way, they’re best kept chilled for a firm texture.
Customize the toppings with a drizzle of peanut butter or melted chocolate, extra chocolate chips or a sprinkling of flaky salt on top before chilling. (Remember to press down on any whole toppings to force them into the shape of the bars.)
FAQ
They likely weren’t pressed firmly enough. Compacting tightly into the pan is essential.
Yes, peanut butter or sunflower seed butter both work well.
Up to ½ cup chopped nuts or seeds can be added without affecting the texture.
Leave a comment or tap the ★★★★★ below to leave a rating — it helps others and supports our work. We love hearing how it turned out!
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Homemade Granola Bars
ingredients
- 2½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup crisp rice cereal
- ¼ cup ground flaxseed
- ¼ cup chopped nuts
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup creamy almond butter
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
instructions
- Line an 8×8-inch (20×20 cm) baking pan with parchment paper *, leaving overhang for easy lifting.
- In a large bowl, combine rolled oats, crisp rice cereal, ground flaxseed, chopped nuts, salt and mini chocolate chips. Stir to evenly distribute.2½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats, ½ cup crisp rice cereal, ¼ cup ground flaxseed, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ cup mini chocolate chips, ¼ cup chopped nuts
- In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, warm honey, almond butter and coconut oil until fully melted and smooth. Do not boil. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.½ cup honey, ½ cup creamy almond butter, ¼ cup coconut oil, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pour the warm mixture over the dry ingredients and stir until everything is well coated.
- Transfer mixture into the prepared pan and press down very firmly using the back of a spoon, the bottom of a glass or the bottom of a measuring cup. Compacting tightly is key for clean slices. If desired, add other toppings and press into place.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until fully set.
- Lift out using parchment overhang and slice into 12 bars.
notes
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Bobby Black says
wow! These look great. Will have to try these this weekend!
Susannah says
Thanks so much Bobby! Hope you enjoy them. 🙂
katie says
yum!! i love making homemade granola bars! these look so good – I can’t wait to try them!
Susannah says
It kind of blew my mind the first time I ever made them. They’re so easy!