Homemade granola bars are something that have been on my bucket list for quite some time. I’ve tried a handful of recipes, but the problem that I kept running into was that the bars wouldn’t hold together well. Some recipes were better than others, but most crumbled under pressure (pun intended 😉 ). I finally stumbled upon the perfect recipe. The secret lies in coconut oil! Coconut oil is what helps maintain the shape of the granola bars, while still balancing a neutral flavor. While the recipe I’m sharing is a coconut and chocolate chip based granola bar, I’m sure the ingredients can be swapped out for whatever your heart desires 🙂
Granola Bars
(Chocolate Chip and Coconut)
Yield: One 9”x13” Pan
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups quick oats (pulsed rolled oats can be substituted)
- ½ cup Rice Krispies cereal
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup coconut oil
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup shredded coconut
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon salt
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350˚F and set aside an ungreased 9”x13” pan.
Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl until thoroughly combined. If using a stand mixer, use paddle attachment and mix on lowest speed.
Transfer mixture to pan and use damp hands to press it in.
Bake for 18 minutes. Score the bars when they first come out of the oven. Cool completely, then cut into bars.
These look delicious! I’ll definitely have to try this recipe out soon! I also posted a healthy recipe for granola bars on my blog, I’d love it if you’d check it out!
Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
I would love to check out your version! Heading over there now 🙂
I find granola bars to be a delicious and healthy way to snack. Your granola bars have m favorite ingredients…chocolate and coconut. Delicious indeed 😀
Thank you! 🙂 They’re a great way to indulge in your sweet tooth without busting the belt loll
Thanks for the lovely recipes. However, am looking for a granola recipes for a diabetic can you help
Regards and more power to you Mathilda
Hello Mathilda! Thank you for stopping by!
Here is a link to a granola bar recipe that is very diabetic friendly:
http://skinnysweettreats.com/2014/03/02/oats-n-pb-granola-bars-nature-valley-dupe/
I hope that helps! 🙂
Healthy & delicious snack, chocolate and coconut make everything tastier.
Thanks Ambreen! Chocolate and coconut do indeed make everything better 🙂
You’ve made my day ! I’ve been looking for a recipe that does not contain banana and or peanut butter!!! hubby does not like these two 🙂 Thanks
Aaah that’s wonderful Amira! If you do decide to make these, let me know how it goes! I love getting feedback 🙂
They have turned out grrrrrrrreat 🙂 I even added a dash of cinnamon and it turned out perfect. Thanks again for the recipe.
Yayyy! Soooo glad you tried them and enjoyed them! 🙂
Looks so yummy, thanks for the recipe!
Thanks! How are you? Long time no see 🙂
I’m good, thanks! Just been a bit busy but now hoping to get back into regular blogging 🙂
Thank you!! I have had the same problem and its been frustrating trying to find one that doesn’t contain peanut butter! I am so trying these out. My children love granola bars but the organic ones cost WAY too much. I see the logic of the coconut oil, and never thought of that! Love it!
I chanced upon a recipe for homemade magic shell, and it explained how coconut is used in it. After I found this recipe I had an AHA moment 🙂
Salaam!
These look great and sadly I’ve never had a granola bar. (Pulls out a post-it)
The plating for this particular post is lovely. On the other hand, I’m so glad WordPress has changed those ugly emoticons 😛
Wsalam!
Girrrrrl you are missing out!
Asalaamu alaykum,
you can’t beat a chewy granola bar for breakfast / snack time!
Wsalaam!
You’re absolutely right! They’re a quick, delicious, and healthy snack 🙂
Thank for posting this – I’ve made multiple subpar attempts at making granola bars, am looking forward to trying these!
I’m sure your little ones would enjoy it (Mama will too 😉 )
hahah mama will enjoy having coconut oil around for another purpose than the forced hair massages of my youth. Just in case you’re wondering it never quite suited my hair :/
So sorry for the late comment…the past 2 weeks have been one after another getting sick and it still isn’t over. There is some crazy virus going around where after the fever is gone the kids get this crazy pain in their legs where they can’t walk. Eventually they got better but in between the kids getting sick, I got sick….looking forward to when spring will arrive and Insha’Allah everyone will be healthy.
Anyways….granola bars look great. I have had the same problem with them falling apart. I’m not a fan of coconut oil though. I tried it in a granola bar recipe before and a much lesser quantity than you used and it was too much for me. We are not big coconut fans. I was thinking of trying an egg white. Picture with the baker’s twine is so cute!
Oh no! I’ve never heard of anything like that
InshAllah I hope everytHing and everyone is better.
This was my first time using coconut oil in cooking and I’m very pleased. Also, it doesn’t impart any flavor which is a total plus for me 🙂
I tried the egg white and it didn’t work..still crumbly….but flavour was great. I used coconut in cookies once and it turned out really well. I should compare your recipe to the one I tried…maybe that was no bake which is why the flavour was so strong…
Everyone is much better now Alhumdullilah!
Just checked and the recipe I tried was 3 tbsp coconut oil and wasn’t baked. I’m going to give your recipe a try after I finish the batch I just made!
Sure! If coconut isn’t your thing then you can swap out the flaked coconut for something else (cranberries, dates, etc. ). But from my experience the coconut oil really maintains a neutral flavor after being baked.
made them! YUMMY! will post and link it to this one soon. Just had to share my excitement 🙂
Yayyy! So happy you enjoyed them! 😀