(Super Healthy) Chewy Granola Bars

"This is a base recipe that is full of nutrient rich ingredients but yet is not overly sweet. The result is a chewy, almost cake-like granola bar though not at all similar to any that you would find in the supermarket. This recipe is pretty flexible so don't hesitate to modify to suit your tastes. For a vegan version, replace the honey with maple syrup. And, try some of the suggested additions. (Updated March 2008)"
 
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Ready In:
45mins
Ingredients:
12
Yields:
15 bars
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ingredients

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directions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Toast oats for 5 minutes in a dry skillet over medium heat. Let cool.
  • In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients (including oats) and whisk together until well combined.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together wet ingredients until well blended.
  • Add wet mixture to dry ingredients and blend gently until well moistened. Add any of the suggested additions now (see Step 8). Mixture should be moist but not too wet. If it seems too dry and crumbly, add a little more applesauce (by the spoonful).
  • Line a 9in x 13in pan with parchment paper and press mixture into pan.
  • Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. Cut into bars while warm, but let cool completely before removing from pan.
  • Suggested additions (add up to 2 cups of any of the following): chocolate chips, raisins (soaked in hot water for 10 minutes then drained), unsweetened shredded coconut, sunflower seeds (unsalted), pumpkin seeds (unsalted), dried fruit (like chopped apricots, cranberries), chopped toasted nuts.

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Reviews

  1. Love the versatility! They are kind of cake-like and dense. Used bananas instead of oil. Added dried mango, banana chips, and sun-flower seeds. Banana chips kind of blended in though, may line them ontop next time. But will be making again, thanks for sharing!
     
  2. Great base recipe. I have made these many times and have substituted the oil with mashed bananas, pumpkin puree, more applesauce or any combination of the three (I think I will try some peanut butter next time). Although, I still add about 1-2 tablespoons of oil. Also substitute wheat germ for wheat bran and add protein powder. Have added chopped almonds and dried fruits (raisins, cranberries and apricots). My husband and I love them for breakfast during our busy work weeks.
     
  3. Did not really like these. I think the large amount of applesauce is why we did not like these, it did something to the texture and flavor.
     
  4. Made to share at a weekly meeting we attend & cut them small so I could get 24 total! I included dried cranberries & some toasted almonds & these were a big hit ~ Gone in no time at all! Will be making these again, for sure! Thanks for posting the recipe! [Made & reviewed in Healthy Choices ABC recipe tag]
     
  5. These were great! I made them for my family and they were gone the next day! I used coconut oil for the oil, and I used dried cranberries, cherries, sunflower seeds, and almonds. I did have to cook them a bit longer than specified.
     
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Tweaks

  1. Love the versatility! They are kind of cake-like and dense. Used bananas instead of oil. Added dried mango, banana chips, and sun-flower seeds. Banana chips kind of blended in though, may line them ontop next time. But will be making again, thanks for sharing!
     
  2. Great base recipe. I have made these many times and have substituted the oil with mashed bananas, pumpkin puree, more applesauce or any combination of the three (I think I will try some peanut butter next time). Although, I still add about 1-2 tablespoons of oil. Also substitute wheat germ for wheat bran and add protein powder. Have added chopped almonds and dried fruits (raisins, cranberries and apricots). My husband and I love them for breakfast during our busy work weeks.
     
  3. THESE ARE THE BEST!!! I used wheat bran instead of wheat germ and flax meal instead of ground flax seeds and they still turned out great! I also added less oil and 1/4 c peanut butter. A very versatile, kid-friendly, healthy, and tasty recipe. (I think the secret ingredient to this recipe is the applesauce....so don't substitute that!!)
     
  4. I made these with my toddler and preschooler in mind, they were a huge hit! I made them in two varieties, one version followed the recipe and added dried cranberries and coconut. The other version, I subbed natural crunchy peanut butter for the oil, and added a little extra applesauce. I used grain sweetened chocolate chips and crunched up peanuts in that batch. Both pans were delicious, but the peanut butter bars were the clear favorites!
     
  5. These were wonderful! I actually subbed unsweetened applesauce for the entire amount of oil. They still came out great! My favorites are cranberry almond. Thanks so much for this recipe!
     

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

I'm a graduate student in Agricultural Economics. I enjoy studying and learning about food from farm to table. Cooking is one of the great pleasures in my life.
 
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